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Have You Signed Up?
The Walk to U-Turn Parkinson's is 5 Weeks Away!
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The Walk to U-Turn Parkinson’s 2023 will lead to a new home in the province!
The 2023 Walk to U-Turn Parkinson’s is fast approaching and this year’s event has an added incentive for all in the Parkinson’s Disease (PD) community here in Manitoba.
The goal for this year’s event is to help secure a new, permanent home for the PD community in Manitoba. To help achieve this goal, U-TurnPD founder Tim Hague Sr. is calling on everyone to rally in support of this great cause.
“How can you help? We’d like you to take a moment and sign up now,”
Tim says. “By joining our cause, you will help us build momentum and make this year's walk the best that it has ever been!”
Registration is now open for individuals and teams for the September 9th event on the
U-TurnPD website by clicking HERE.
So far, the response has been very positive, with many individuals and teams already signed up for the day that will take place at Whyte Ridge Baptist Church, starting at 10:00 AM. In addition to the walk, the day will be filled with events and activities for the whole family and lunch!
The church is located at 2405 McGillivray Blvd. and provides easy access and abundant parking on site.
CLICK HERE for a map to the event!
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The goal for this year’s event is to raise $50,000 towards finding a new, permanent home for U-TurnPD and the entire PD community in the Province of Manitoba. This new home will serve as the base of operations and allow U-TurnPD to focus on developing and delivering programs and services for the growing number of people in the PD community.
A strong turnout of individuals and teams will go a long way to help reach this goal!
“We hope our community will get excited about this year’s event,” Tim adds. “We hope you will talk about it at home, with your partner, with your extended family, with your work colleagues. Tell them you’ve signed up, how much fun last year’s event was, and why U-TurnPD and its mission are important to you. Together, we can do incredible things, like U-Turn Parkinson’s!”
CLICK HERE to learn more about how your support will make a positive impact on the Parkinson’s community in Manitoba.
CLICK HERE to fill out the registration form and we’ll see you in September!
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A Message from the Founder | |
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Annndd…just like that it is August, and we are halfway through summer, at least here in Manitoba. Wherever our newsletter finds you this month, I trust you are having a fantastic summer. My summer has been wonderful in that it has been full of sunshine and warmth! Now, the word warmth or warm makes me think of our new location for U-Turn Parkinson’s.
Our New Digs
We were once again asked to leave our prior location due to scheduling conflicts, and there has been a fair bit of chatter amongst our participants regarding our new location at Churchill Park United Church. Now, most of the aforementioned chatter has been very positive, though there has been some note that the gym can be warm due to a lack of air conditioning. Fortunately, we have only had a few very warm days, and we will continue to monitor this and adjust our class schedule as necessary to look after our folks!
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'This Place is Very Comfortable'
On the whole, comments on our now permanent move to 525 Beresford Avenue have been quite positive, much like the above statement. We have found that the temperatures are in general, easily moderated by what I call an attic fan - a device that will suck all the heat and any untethered small animals out of the room. It can be a tad loud, but hey, we all need to practice speaking louder anyway! We will continue to work with staff to ensure everyone can be heard!
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We have been warmly welcomed by the staff at the church, we have storage for All our equipment in the gym, thus reducing the amount of work our coaches and volunteers need to do, and we have a lovely sitting area for our support groups, and various meetings.
Lastly, the space overall offers a considerable savings over our previous facility.
So, yes, we are very happy with our new place, but we are hoping, even praying, that this is our last move before moving home, to our future HQ!
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A New Home for U-Turn Parkinson's
We simply need our own space. It is time. We cannot grow without it. Every time we have had to move over the past seven years our focus is taken off the prize and shifted to the necessity at hand, of finding a new place to operate out of. Thus, we lose momentum, we lose people, we just lose.
It is a big goal, this idea of leasing our own commercial space in which to build a home for U-TurnPD. But I believe that it is the right thing to do and that it can be done. How big is the goal? Oh, somewhere around the $500,000 range for 2024; that is the operating budget of U-TurnPD and a leased facility. I know it can take your breath away. But I hope more than anything that it will stir our hearts and minds into action.
With this year's Walk to U-TurnPD, we are launching this initiative to provide a new and permanent home for the charity! If it’s not evident, let me be clear. We need you! We need you to come walk with us and raise awareness and money so that we can meet this goal. Make a one-time donation today. Join our Circle of Champions. Help us build a home for the Parkinson’s community in Manitoba!
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Pedal Power: Biking Demonstration for All!
Register Now for our Exciting Biking Demonstration on August 10th at Assiniboine Park!
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Dear Biking Enthusiasts,
We are happy to announce that we will be hosting a biking demonstration on August 10th at 10 AM at Assiniboine Park. We will meet at the pedestrian bridge to start our demonstration.
Our biking demonstration aims to bring together cyclists of all levels to celebrate the joy of biking and explore the beautiful paths and trails at Assiniboine Park. This biking demonstration will be an opportunity to learn about your bike and what you need to have a successful ride! Whether you're a seasoned rider or just getting started, this event promises an unforgettable experience for everyone!
To ensure a smooth and enjoyable biking demonstration, we kindly ask all participants to register in advance. Registration is essential so that the entire group can leave on time!
To register for the biking demonstration, please visit our website and register as usual, or you can email info@uturnpd.org
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Please remember that your safety is our top priority, and we will be implementing the necessary precautions to ensure a secure biking environment. Don't forget to bring your helmet and any other biking gear you may need.
If you have any questions or require assistance with the registration process, feel free to contact us at info@uturnpd.org or 204-510-4869.
Let's make this biking demonstration a resounding success by coming together as a vibrant biking community. Invite your friends, family, and fellow biking enthusiasts to join us on this exciting journey.
Register now and get ready to pedal your way to an amazing biking adventure on August 10th!
See you at Assiniboine Park!
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Executive Director Update | |
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Hello everyone,
Happy August!
Busy Bees
As always, U-Turn Parkinson’s staff are working as hard as U-Turn Parkinson’s member Tom Hardern’s bees through the summer!
Tom, a hobby beekeeper, and U-TurnPD member, has jarred his urban honey - which he describes as more floral and flavourful - and is selling his PD Honey with proceeds supporting U-Turn Parkinson’s!
If you are interested in purchasing a jar, Tom can be found on Monday mornings at the Churchill Park United Church, during our Meet for Coffee program. In addition, he is attending two farmers markets in the city this summer. St. Boniface Summer Market at Tache every Thursday from June 1 – August 31, 5:00 – 8:00 PM (Esplanade Riel - Provencher Bridge), and the Wolseley Farmers Market on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 6:30 PM (980 Palmerston Avenue). You can also find PD Honey at Denardi's, Hildegards and Vic's market!
Thank you Tom for your support to ensure we thrive just like your hive!
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Hola, We’re Back, and We Have Information to Share! |  | |
As many of you know, staff and members of the U-Turn Parkinson’s community attended the World Parkinson’s Congress this year in Barcelona, Spain!
It was an amazing event and opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations around the world!
The event was four days long and included researchers, healthcare professionals, Parkinson’s organizations, people with Parkinson’s, and care partners. There really was information and resources for everyone, from the latest research in tracking the progression of Parkinson's disease and disease subtypes, to care partner sessions, information about PD and aging, to ping pong for Parkinson's demonstrations!
We are excited to review the information we garnered from the event and put it into practice! However, we have also had many questions from our community about the experience and our key takeaways, so we have decided to plan an event!
Keep an eye on your emails for additional information about our Zoom event in August!
Taylor Devlin
Executive Director
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Get Ready to Groove
Introducing Our Exciting New Dance Class for Fall!
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We are thrilled to remind you of our new dance class coming this fall in collaboration with Dancing with Parkinson’s!
This initiative aims to bring the joy and therapeutic benefits of dance to our U-TurnPD community!
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Designed specifically for individuals living with Parkinson's disease, this class aims to promote movement, balance, and coordination through the joy of dance. The class will be led by our wonderful instructor, Brenda Gorlick. She will lead the class through a compassionate lens to improve flexibility, enhance mood, and increase social interaction.
All dancing abilities are welcome to attend, explore the power of dance, and embrace the power of movement to enhance your quality of life.
Stay tuned for more details on class schedules and registration. We look forward to dancing with you this fall!
Together, let's move, groove, and defy Parkinson's!
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Paraquat and Parkinson's
Unravelling the Potential Connection
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While some of us may spend our summers walking through parks, exploring nature, or working in our gardens, we want to share some interesting research about a potential environmental factor that could contribute to PD development. A factor that has garnered significant attention is the herbicide Paraquat. We want to shed light on this connection between Paraquat and Parkinson's disease alongside the PD Avengers, who have been raising awareness about this issue for some time!
Paraquat is a widely used herbicide known for its effectiveness in eliminating various weeds and plants in agricultural settings. It was introduced in the 1960s and has since been utilized globally due to its low cost and efficiency. Despite its efficacy in weed control, Paraquat has also become a subject of concern due to its potentially harmful effects on human health.
Researchers began investigating the potential link between Paraquat exposure and Parkinson's disease after observing an increased prevalence of PD cases among agricultural workers. Several studies have indicated a possible association between Paraquat exposure and an elevated risk of developing Parkinson's disease. However, it is essential to note that correlation does not necessarily imply causation and the exact mechanism behind this potential connection remains complex and multifaceted. The proposed mechanisms linking Paraquat to Parkinson's disease include: oxidative stress (an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body), inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction (cells in your body that create energy don't work properly). Paraquat has the potential to damage cells and their components. Additionally, it may trigger an inflammatory response and impair cellular functions. If these malfunctions persist, they could contribute to the neurodegenerative process seen in Parkinson's.
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The PD Avengers is a global advocacy group comprising individuals with Parkinson's disease, caregivers, scientists, and concerned citizens. The PD Avengers have worked to raise awareness about the potential environmental factors contributing to Parkinson's, and have shone light on Paraquat. Alongside the PD Avengers, we aim to bring awareness in hopes of achieving greater transparency in the herbicide industry and the distribution of knowledge about the potential risks associated with pesticide exposure.
The potential link between Paraquat and Parkinson's disease remains an area of active investigation in the scientific community. While the exact mechanisms are not yet fully understood, there is mounting evidence suggesting a connection between Paraquat exposure and an increased risk of Parkinson's. The PD Avengers are working to raise awareness about this issue and pushing for policy changes that prioritize public health.
Fortunately, paraquat is no longer registered for distribution or use in Canada! In Canada, the only product containing paraquat is an herbicide called Gramoxone® that was used in agriculture. This product was regulated by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and had restrictive use cases. Recently, however, the manufacturers of Gramoxone® discontinued its registration in Canada.
Resources:
https://www.drugwatch.com/paraquat/
https://www.pdavengers.com/blog/volunteers-chemicals
https://www.parkinson.ca/about-parkinsons/pesticides/
https://www.parkinson.ca/discontinuation-of-paraquat-product-in-canada/
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Interested in Exercising your Brain? | |
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Join the Parkinson's Improv Troupe
Our Friends at Tightrope Improv Theatre are Offering Online Classes for People with Parkinson's!
Tightrope Improv Theatre is proud to present our Improv for Parkinson's program again this fall! We use improv as a way of building community and teaching skills that apply to life with Parkinson's. Each of our classes is led by an experienced improv teacher, accompanied by a member of our PD Performance Troupe. For folks who are interested in giving improv a try, check out our upcoming courses below. Plus, keep an eye on our web page for more information on virtual performances by the PD Performance Troupe this October and December!
Visit our website: https://tightropetheatre.com/improv-for-parkinsons
For any questions, please contact: rosemary@tightropetheatre.com
Upcoming Virtual Courses:
Improv for Parkinson's Level 1
This 6-week course is designed to introduce students with Parkinson’s disease (PD) to the foundations of improvisation and apply improv skills to life with PD. We encourage family members and care partners to attend with participants.
September 16th - October 28th, 2023
(No class October 7th)
Saturdays, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm PT, on ZOOM
Register by donation: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/643912649067?aff=oddtdtcreator
November 4th - December 16th, 2023
(No class November 11th)
Saturdays, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm PT, on ZOOM
Register by donation: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/644044453297?aff=oddtdtcreator
Improv for Parkinson's Level 2
This 6-week course is for students with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who have taken the Level 1 class or have equivalent improv experience.
November 4th - December 16th, 2023
(No class November 11th)
Saturdays, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm PT, on ZOOM
Register by donation: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/644063189337?aff=oddtdtcreator
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U-Turn Parkinson's gratefully acknowledges the many sponsorship & grants provided by: | | | | |
