LETTERS

So many programs to help those with Parkinson’s

Posted 9/22/16

To the Editor:

I was pleased to see the space you gave to publicizing a boxing program for people with Parkinson’s disease that meets in Pawtucket. It is a very successful exercise program. A …

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LETTERS

So many programs to help those with Parkinson’s

Posted

To the Editor:

I was pleased to see the space you gave to publicizing a boxing program for people with Parkinson’s disease that meets in Pawtucket. It is a very successful exercise program. A similar boxing program will be starting at the South County Y in the near future.

There is much happening in our city related to PD that was not mentioned in the article. The biggest news (not mentioned) was the annual Optimism Walk sponsored by the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association in Goddard Park on September 10. One thousand six hundred people participated in this fun fundraiser in Warwick and raised close to $75,000. The money raised is used to help improve the lives of Rhode Islanders with PD in many ways beyond subsidizing the stellar boxing program in Pawtucket. See RIPDA’s Facebook page for photos from this Warwick event.

This past weekend, at Kent Hospital in Warwick, a special art workshop for people with Parkinson’s was sponsored by RIAPDA and led by Art Cart. Special exercises that focused on Parkinson’s symptoms were incorporated with creating mixed media paintings. Two paintings by people with PD made at the Warwick Art Cart will be shown at a national event on Oct. 17. There are a number of support groups that meet monthly in Warwick for people with PD and their caretakers.

PD is said to be diagnosed every 90 seconds in the U.S. There are many nationwide programs specifically designed to help with PD symptoms. LSVT Loud and Big therapies, Dance for Parkinson’s, and Tremble Clefs are some of these that we have had in Rhode Island.

For information about what is available to help improve the lives of those diagnosed with this progressive, debilitating illness in Rhode Island, check out the RIADPA website. The Rhode Island office is located in Kent Hospital.

Michele Keir

Warwick

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