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THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
CELEBRATES
PARKINSON'S AWARENESS
DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL 2015
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South Carolina State House
Front View
Photo by Dottie Gantt
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South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley Issued A Governor's Proclamation
Declaring That April 2015 Is Parkinson's Awareness Month
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The Columbia Parkinson's Support Group has been proud to be an advocate for the Parkinson's Community, and help create "Parkinson's Awareness" in the state of South Carolina . Since 2006, representing the SC Parkinson's Community, the Columbia Parkinson's Support Group has initiated a request that the South Carolina Governor issue a Governor's Proclamation declaring April to be "Parkinson's Awareness Month".
"Parkinson’s Awareness" in South Carolina is very important for several reasons.
Did You Know?
(Just A Few Facts About Parkinson's)
Every 9 minutes an individual is diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease
Just within the immediate city of Columbia, it is estimated that there are 30 new cases of Parkinson’s each year
There is no “definitive test” that can confirm Parkinson's disease, except after death
The age of those being diagnosed is getting younger and younger
Parkinson's is not just your "grandparent's" disease or an "old folks" disease any more
The incidence of Parkinson’s increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with PD are diagnosed before the age of 50
Currently there is "no cure" for Parkinson's
You can’t catch Parkinson’s, it is not contagious. It is a long term progressive disorder much like Alzheimer’s
Medication can substitute for the missing dopamine, but it is only a temporary solution
There are estimated 60,000 new cases of Parkinson's Disease a year, and this number does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected.
There "are more than" 1,500,000 people estimated to have
Parkinson's in the United States - which is more than the combined number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig's disease
1 in 100 people will have Parkinson's disease
Men are one and a half times more likely to have Parkinson's than women
The combined direct and indirect cost of Parkinson’s, including treatment, social security payments and lost income from inability to work, is estimated to be nearly $25 billion per year in the United States alone
Without more federal funding for research to find a cure for Parkinson's,
the
numbers of Parkinson patients will only increase each year |
The impact of Parkinson’s disease upon the Parkinson's patient, their family, and their caregivers/care partners, can have severe emotional and economic impacts upon their community and the state. Parkinson's disease in the state of South Carolina needs to be better understood by the citizens in our state, and by members of our state government and our federal government. Each year, the Columbia Parkinson's Support Group works hard to help create increased awareness of Parkinson's disease.
The South Carolina Parkinson’s Community hopes that with increased awareness of Parkinson’s disease, the citizens of South Carolina, and those in our state and local governments will come to RECOGNIZE, BECOME INFORMED, SUPPORT, VOLUNTEER to assist with their resources and time, and BECOME ADVOCATES for finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. |
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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. South Carolina has had Proclamations issued by our state Governors in the following years
2015 = Yes Proclamation issued
2014 = Yes Proclamation issued with a Governor's ceremony
2013 = Yes Proclamation issued
2012 = Yes Proclamation issued
2011 = Yes Proclamation issued
2010 = Yes Proclamation issued with a Governor's ceremony
2009 = Yes Proclamation issued with a Lt. Governor's ceremony
2008 = No Proclamation issued
2007 = Yes Proclamation issued
2006 = Yes Proclamation issued
No Proclamations issued prior to 2006
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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 PD Tulip 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 PD Tulip for Parkinson's Awareness." by Supporters of the PDTulip for Parkinson's' Awareness |
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Parkinson Awareness Buttons Designed by Kay Perricelli
Photo by Dottie Gantt |
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