Sunday, October 5, 2014 Bayfront Park, Miami, FL- Thousands of supporters spent a beautiful morning in Bayfront Park to support the National Parkinson Foundation’s Moving Day, including partner Jane Muir. 83 teams surpassed the event goal of $500,000 and raised $566,304. Muir walked in memory of her maternal grandfather, Ira William “Bill” Hardee, Jr. who had Parkinson’s Disease, and passed at only fifty-one years old.
Moving Day is the South Florida Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation’s annual event to raise awareness and funds to improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease (or “PD”) through research, education and outreach. There are an estimated 30,000 affected by Parkinson’s disease in South Florida. The event included a walk to celebrate movement, kicked off by confetti and a Bahamian Junkanoo band. After the walk, volunteers practiced yoga, danced, and even accepted pies in the face at the “Movement Pavilion.” Participants included people living with Parkinson’s Disease, their families and friends, healthcare professionals, and corporate teams, who all joined to support of the Foundation’s mission.
Moving Day is the South Florida Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation’s annual event to raise awareness and funds to improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease (or “PD”) through research, education and outreach. There are an estimated 30,000 affected by Parkinson’s disease in South Florida. The event included a walk to celebrate movement, kicked off by confetti and a Bahamian Junkanoo band. After the walk, volunteers practiced yoga, danced, and even accepted pies in the face at the “Movement Pavilion.” Participants included people living with Parkinson’s Disease, their families and friends, healthcare professionals, and corporate teams, who all joined to support of the Foundation’s mission.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that currently has no cure. After Alzheimer’s, it is the most common neurodegenerative disease. It progresses slowly in most people, as the brain slowly stops producing the neurotransmitter “dopamine.” With less dopamine, the person’s ability to regulate movement, body and emotions decline. Parkinson’s disease itself is not fatal, but complications from the disease are serious and are rated the 14th top cause of death in the United States by the Center for Disease Control.
Muir walked with “Team Kozyak & Reno.” Team Captain John Kozyak is the chair of the National Parkinson Foundation, and both of his parents suffer from the disease. Team Captain Janet Reno is a former Miami-Dade County State Attorney, as well as United States Attorney, who is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Reno’s mother was a news reporter with Muir’s grandmother, Helen Muir. “It was a pleasure to be part of such a terrific team and to support two dear friends like John and Janet,” said Muir. The team’s notable members included U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Wilfredo Ferrer, Hon. Thomas Logue of the Third District Court of Appeal of Florida, Hon. Fred Seraphin of the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida, Joanne Koren and Georgina Angones of the University of Miami School of Law, Frank Angones, former Florida Bar President, attorneys Barbara Silverman, Corali Lopez-Castro, Julie Braman Kane, Porpoise Evans, and Leigh-Ann Buchanan, president of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association, among others.
The National Parkinson Foundation is dedicated to promoting a comprehensive approach to care for symptoms of the disease, while searching insight that will improve the disease’s course. It supports thirty-nine Centers of Excellence, renowned for outstanding performance in research, comprehensive care delivery, professional education and patient outreach services. For more information about NPF or Parkinson’s disease, please visit https://www.parkinson.org/about-us.aspx, call 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) or e-mail helpline@parkinson.org
