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| ABOUT OUR MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS & WHAT WE DO |
8th Annual Parkinson Disease Seminar
by Medical College of Georgia Health Neuroscience Center
May 22, 2009
Photo by Dottie Gantt
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We provide information about education opportunities
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In addition to having speakers, programs, and presentations at our monthly meetings, we recognize that there is more that we can do for our membership. Another important function of our support group is providing information to our members about classes, seminars, events, and symposiums on topics related to living with Parkinson's disease.
Attending classes, seminars, events, and symposiums provides an opportunity for the participants to ask questions of Parkinson experts during the presentations and during breaks of other in the Parkinson's Community.
Participants are also able to talk with and receive information from various types of vendors providing information on all types of topics, e.g., from medical to lifestyle. |
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We partner with medical schools and universities
University of South Carolina School of Medicine lecture class panel participation
During April 2008 and April 2009, Dr. Dale Rutledge Hamrick, Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, invited Parkinson PD patients from our support group to serve on a panel and be subjects for his annual Parkinson Disease lecture to the USC second year medical students. The Parkinson patients provided the 2nd year medical students with an opportunity to view the different forms/symptoms of Parkinson's disease in patients; and to ask questions about what it was like to be a Parkinson patient. Members of our support group continue to participate in this semester class. |
April 14, 2009 Lecture by Dr. Dale Rutledge Hamrick, Professor
at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Video by Dottie Gantt
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Provide student course credit opportunities
Our support group actively reaches out to medical educational institutions here in the mid-lands of SC. We have a standing invitation to medical students to attend our meetings as guests. Students sometimes are able to count their attendance at our meetings towards their school course credit requirements. We feel this is a definite Win-Win for everyone, because we are able to expose future members of the medical community to Parkinson's.
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University of South Carolina (USC) Chapter of the American Geriatric Society
In 2005, 2008 and 2009, members of our support group were invited by the University of South Carolina (USC) chapter of the American Geriatric Society to serve on a panel at one of their geriatric chapter meetings. Each of these panels consisted of three couples - each couple was a PD patient and their care partner. The meeting attendees, who were USC medical students and doctors, could ask any question of the PD patients or the care partners about living with Parkinson's. This was an excellent opportunity for sharing information directly from PD patients and care partners. These panels also provided an opportunity to express how PD patients and their care partners would like to be treated and viewed by the future and current medical community. |
Students from USC Communication Sciences
Left to Right - Lauren Rindskopt, Abbey Glick, Victoria Aiello,
Kendra Pickerill, and Britt Lassiter
Photo by Dennis Baker
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Medical students participate at our meetings
Students from area medical schools are invited to attend whenever and as often as they like to our meetings. We also encourage them to actively participate in our meetings in many ways.
On April 19, 2009, students from the Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of South Carolina were invited to present a meeting program about Speech & Swallowing Difficulties in Parkinson Patients.
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We have open forums and discussions
At our open forum meetings, we start with a theme or topic, and go from there. Our members have an opportunity to share with each other their own experiences; ask questions of each other; and help each other by proving solutions that they may have for various issues, concerns, problems, etc. Our members tell us that at the open forum meetings they learn information they can't find anywhere else, because they are learning directly from other Parkinson patients and their caregivers, and from real life experiences.
 September 21, 2008
Open Forum Meeting
Photo by Dottie Gantt |
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We provide education, information, and participate in clinical trials
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| The members of our support group appreciate and recognize that in order to find a cure for Parkinson's, we in the Parkinson's community need to participate in some of the research and clinical trials. Our support group provides education to our membership about the clinical trial process. Whenever medical research facilities contact us about their need for clinical trial subjects, we pass this information on to our members, and our members are able to make informed decisions about participating in trials, based upon their own medical condition and needs. |
Front Entrance to
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Center
Bethesda, MD
June 15, 2003
Photo by Dottie Gantt |
June 2003 NIH study
On June 15th through June 17th, 2003, three couples (each couple consisting of a patient and a care partner) traveled to the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD to participate in a National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Parkinson's genetic study about biological markers and linkage studies of familial parkinsonism, conducted by Dr. Katrina Gwinn-Hardy and her research team.
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| December 2003 NIH field study
December 6th and 7th, 2003 - While at the June 15th - 17th, 2003 NIH Bethesda, MD clinical trail participation (above), members of the Columbia Parkinson Support Group extended an invitation to Dr. Katrina Gwinn-Hardy's NIH neurology research team to bring their genetic study to Columbia, SC. In December 2003, members of CPSG provided publicity and volunteers to assist the NIH doctors with conducting their field study. More than 150 subjects from South Carolina participated in this two-day study of Parkinson patients, spouses, and immediate members of their families. NIH indicated that this was a very successful field study, because it was the largest number of subjects to participate in a single study outside of NIH facilities. On December 7th, 2003, a presentation about this genetic study was made Dr. Gwinn-Hardy's research team at our monthly meeting in the Lexington Medical Center Auditorium, where there was standing room only by support group members and guests. |
| PARS study
The PARS study and clinical trail (started in 2008) is the largest study involving first-degree relatives of individuals diagnosed with Parkinson disease. The goal of the PARS study is to better understand who may be at risk for Parkinson disease so that it can ultimately be prevented before it starts. This study will evaluate thousands of individuals that have a relative affected by Parkinson disease to determine whether specific tests are able to predict who may be at increased risk for developing Parkinson disease. The initial test to be evaluated in the PARS study is a smell identification test that is distributed by mail and completed at home. By using smell testing in combination with other tests we hope to develop a system to detect signs or symptoms that may predict who is at risk for Parkinson disease. |
Wii study
August 2008 - Dr. Nathan "Ben" Herz from the Department of Occupational Therapy at MCG demonstrated to our support group how he was conducting a clinical trial study to see if the Nintendo Wii games, and the Nintendo Wii Fit with Balance Board could aid in the occupational therapy of those with Parkinson's. After this meeting, several members of the group volunteered to participate in the Dr. Herz's Wii study at the Medical College of Georgia. |
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We help create Parkinson's disease awareness and visibility |
| One of our goals as a Parkinson's support group is to create public awareness and visibility of Parkinson's disease. We believe that awareness about Parkinson's disease will help to provide the Parkinson's community with more opportunities to educate and to gain support for finding a cure for Parkinson's disease.
Each year April is Parkinson Awareness Month in South Carolina, Nationally, and Internationally - The Columbia Parkinson's Support Group, has sponsored having members of our support group and other Parkinson's representatives of the South Carolina Parkinson's community meet with our SC Governors and Lieutenant Governors for April Parkinson's Awareness Proclamation events.
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| We raise funds to help provide support, information, education, create awareness, and further research to find a cure for Parkinson's |
APRIL 11, 2010 ~ CPSG PARKINSON WALK & FUND RAISING
During April & May 2010, our support group partnered with Sarah Crook and Shannon Parry, two USC students, who were working on their “Senior Thesis Project” for the USC Honors College.
Their thesis project was to plan, develop, and execute a fund raising projects to raise $3,000 for Parkinson’s disease education and research.
Click here to learn more about their Parkinson's fund raising thesis project
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Gathering together for the walk.
Columbia Parkinson's Support Group Parkinson's Walk
April 11, 2010
Photo by Dennis Baker
Click here to see photos of our April 11, 2010 Parkinson's Walk
and how much money was raised for Parkinson's research and education.
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Kroger TULIP fundraising campaign
In partnership with local Kroger Food Stores, our support group has an annual in-store TULIP Fundraising Campaign. The Kroger stores provide a month long opportunity for an in-store event where their customers can donate $1.00 or more when they check-out at the grocery store. Customers write their names on our paper TULIP tags, and the store displays them in the store to show their support and their customer's support of Parkinson's.
The fundraising donations received are used to provide Parkinson's patients, their caregivers, and anyone else interested in Parkinson's with Support, Education, Information, and Research.
Participating Kroger Food Stores in our TULIP campaign are:
10136 Two Notch Road, Columbia
3403 Forest Drive, Columbia
817 St. Andrews Road, Columbia
7467 St. Andrews Road, Irmo
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Thank You Columbia area Shoppers
For Your Donations!
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We make an annual contributions to help find a cure for Parkinson's
At the end of each year, during the December Christmas and Holiday gift giving season, we take a portion of our support group treasury funds and make an annual donation to some of the major Parkinson foundations for research to find a cure for Parkinson's.
Past donations have gone to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, the National Parkinson Foundation, and/or the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. |
Photo by Dennis Baker
Carol Baker, our Treasurer, writing checks for our annual donation to some of the nation's Parkinson's research foundations.
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Photo by Dennis Baker
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We support our Parkinson's community and other Parkinson's support groups |
We support the our Parkinson's community by participating with other Parkinson support groups in their fund raising events and activities. |
A Parkinson's tulip was painted
on Carol Baker's cheek.
Central Savannah River Association (CSRA)
Parkinson's Walk
November 7, 2009
Photo by Dennis Cooper |
The Bride & Groom (Dr. Ben and Paula Jackson Herz) celebrated their wedding day by walking at the Central Savannah River Association (CSRA)
Parkinson's Walk
November 7, 2009
Photo by Dennis Cooper |
Even Duncan was there with Dr. Ben Herz walk to support
the Central Savannah River Association (CSRA) Parkinson's Walk
November 7, 2009
Photo by Dennis Cooper
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We participated in the first global Parkinson's quilt project - 2010
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Columbia Parkinson's Support Group 2010 PDF Quilt Panel
Photo by Dottie Gantt |
The Columbia Parkinson's Support Group participated in the first ever global Parkinson's quilt project.
The 2010 Parkinson's Quilt Project was created as a fund raiser for Parkinson's research, and to focus the world's attention on the nearly one million people in the US and more than 4.1 million people worldwide living with Parkinson's disease).
The Parkinson's Quilt was displayed for the first time at the 2nd World Parkinson Congress in Glasgow, Scotland from September 28th through October 1, 2010. The Quilt consists of panels made by individuals and groups affected by Parkinson's, in honor of the cause, of their group, or "in memory of" and "in honor of" of loved ones affected by Parkinson's.
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It's not all work, we have fun together
We celebrate special occasions, including our own 25th birthday!
In January 1985, W. G. Rainey and a small group of individuals started our support group, because they felt there was a need for a Parkinson's support group in the midlands of South Carolina for Parkinson's patients, their care caregivers, and those who have an interest in Parkinson's. The group was formally established on March 20, 1985. On January 17, 2010 we had a surprise 25th Birthday Party at our monthly support group meeting.
Click here to see our 25th birthday party photos!
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We get to know each other
December 2008 Meeting
Photo by Dottie Gantt
Before and after our meetings, people socialize with each other and share information |
We Learn New Moves
May 2008 - Tai Chi Demonstration
Photo by Dottie Gantt
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We party
Every year we have an annual Christmas / Holiday party for our December meeting
If you can not view this move, you can obtain a free QuickTime Download for a PC or Mac
Click Here To Download Free QuickTime Video Player
Please be patient, the Video/Movie may take a few seconds to download, and then the first frame of the video will display.
To view the QuickTime Video/Movie above, Double Click Anywhere In The Photo To START and Single Click Anywhere In The Photo To STOP
Note: If the sound is not loud enough, you may have to adjust the speaker icon in the lower left corner of the video frame (move the slider up as loud as you need ) or adjust your PC/MAC Volume Control
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We Meet New People
Photo by Dottie Gantt |
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