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The STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
PARKINSON'S AWARENESS PROCLAMATION
APRIL 2014
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Photo by Zach Pippin, Governor Halley's Official Photographer
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SC Governor Nikki Haley Issued A Governor's Proclamation Declaring That April 2014 Was Parkinson's Awareness Month
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On April 24, 2014, the Columbia Parkinson's Support Group sponsored an event where representatives of the South Carolina Parkinson's community met with SC Governor Nikki Haley, in the Governor's office at the SC Statehouse, for a reading of the 2014 Parkinson's Awareness Proclamation.
Representing the SC Parkinson's community at this event were Parkinson's Patients, Caregivers, and Neurology and Movement Disorder Doctors and Parkinson's Disease Specialists. They came from different parts of South Carolina - Chapin, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Hilton Head, Irmo, Leesville, Lexington, and Spartanburg.
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Photo by Zach Pippin, Governor Halley's Official Photographer
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From the Columbia Parkinson's Support Group - Left to Right is Barb and Don Nickel, Johnny Miller, Carol and Dennis Baker, Michelle Morton-Reed, Governor Nikki Haley, Dottie Gantt, Kay and Bill Perricelli, and CW Gantt
Missing from this photo is Jeannie Miller who was busy taking photos - some can be seen in our video below. |
Photo by Zach Pippin, Governor Halley's Official Photographer
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Those who represented the SC Parkinson's Community were - Left to Right is Governor Nikki Haley, Jeanne and Johnny Miller, Dennis Baker, hidden behind Dennis is Larry O'Neill, Dottie Gantt, Carol Baker, CW Gantt, Adrienne O'Neill, Bill and Kay Perricelli, SC Representative Tommy M. Springer, Barb and Don Nickel, Johann Fridriksson, Lisa Cox, Dr. Kathleen V. Woschkloup, Dr. Christina Vaughn, Michelle and Sean Reed, and Sandi Holmes |
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VIDEO / SLIDESHOW OF 2014 PROCLAMATION EVENT
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U.S. Senate Declares April 2014 Parkinson's Awareness Month
The Parkinson's Action Network (PAN) and the Columbia Parkinson's Support Group would like to thank the U.S. Senate for declaring April Parkinson's Awareness Month. By doing so, our elected officials have helped us bring more awareness to a disease that affects between 500,000 and 1.5 million people and helps PAN and our grassroots leaders work toward advocating for better treatments and a cure for Parkinson's disease.
Introduced by the Senate co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Parkinson's Disease – Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Mark Udall (D-CO) -- the resolution recognizes April as Parkinson's Awareness Month and commends the Parkinson's community for its dedication in working to improve the quality of life of persons living with Parkinson's disease and their families.
Sen. Stabenow led the resolution's introduction and said, "Parkinson's disease affects millions of Americans and their families, and we must continue to support medical research that can lead to breakthrough treatments. With this month, we honor those who live with this terrible disease and their families as we work tirelessly to find a cure for Parkinson's."
The other co-chairs also commented.
"I am honored to join my colleagues in recognition of April as Parkinson's Awareness Month," said Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA). "It is important to educate the American public so that we can raise awareness about this terrible disease and recognize that we should do all that we can to support individuals with Parkinson's through continued research and improvements in the quality of care."
"I know the pain and suffering Parkinson's disease has caused countless patients and their families. By declaring April Parkinson's Awareness Month, we are raising awareness – an important step in finding a cure and giving these families hope," said Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE).
"Having lost my father to Parkinson's, I understand first-hand the debilitating effects that this disease has on both the individual and their family," said Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO). "I have long supported efforts to bring awareness about Parkinson's disease and will continue to fight until we find a cure for Parkinson's and other neuro-muscular diseases."
PAN would also like to thank our advocates, who have also been working in their communities to get local proclamations and resolutions passed. PAN applauds all local, state, and now federal entities that have recognized April as Parkinson's Awareness Month. Without this awareness, we might not be able to move policies forward that help us achieve our mission of finding better treatments and a cure. |
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History of South Carolina Governor's Proclamations Issued for April being Parkinson's Awareness Month
Each April, the majority of the states in our nation have Governor's Parkinson's Awareness Proclamation signing or presentation ceremonies. The Columbia Parkinson's Support Group has sponsored South Carolina Proclamations to be issued by our state Governors as follows:
No Proclamations issued prior to 2006
2006 = Yes Proclamation issued
2007 = Yes Proclamation issued
2008 = No Proclamation issued
2009 = Yes Proclamation issued with a Lt. Governor's ceremony
2010 = Yes Proclamation issued with a Governor's ceremony
2011 = Yes Proclamation issued
2012 = Yes Proclamation issued
2013 = Yes Proclamation issued
2014 = Yes Proclamation issued with a Governor's ceremony
The SC State House Governor's Proclamation ceremonies with our elected officials have been a major way for the SC Parkinson's community to help create Parkinson's awareness among the citizens of our state.
SC Governor's Proclamation events are another opportunity for South Carolina to join with the other US states in our nation, and with other nations to publicly celebrate April as "Parkinson's Awareness Month".
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Photo from
maltaparkinsons.com |
Why does the Columbia Parkinson's Support Group and other Parkinson's groups and organizations have a red tulip as part of their logo?
The tulip symbol, the "Dr. James Parkinson Tulip", has been adopted by many Parkinson's disease organizations and groups around the world. The story of the Parkinson tulip began in 1980 in the Netherlands when J.W.S. Van der Wereld, a Dutch horticulturist who had PD, gave the name "Dr. James Parkinson" to the red and white tulip he had developed.
Note: Some PD organizations have a yellow tulip.
For the complete story about the "Dr. James Parkinson Tulip" click here
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Another Parkinson Disease Symbol for PD Awareness
The tulip — a red flower with distinctive leaves shaped like the letters “p” and “d” — was designed by a "Young Onset" person with Parkinson’s (PWP) from Washington state — Karen Painter.
"While grassroots support for making Karen's tulip the national symbol for Parkinson’s awareness is growing, organizations and volunteers are encouraged to be proud of their organizational affiliation; and to use their own organization's symbol with pride. They should feel free to also use the PDTulip as a symbol that can represent ALL people with Parkinson's and ALL organizations and ALL scientists in the US who are working for the cure. Please show your support of the PDTulip for Parkinson's Awareness." by Supporters of the PDTulip for Parkinson's' Awareness |
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What is the United States "Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease"?
Congressional Caucuses are formed by Members of US Congress to provide a forum for issues or legislative agendas. The "Congressional Caucuses on Parkinson's Disease" is made up of both US Representatives and Senators who have coalesced in an effort to find better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
For a list of all the members of the US Congressional Caucus on Parkinson’s Disease click on this link
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Parkinson Awareness Buttons Designed by Kay Perricelli
Photo by Dottie Gantt |
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