Calgary’s Inaugural Parkinson’s Disease Picnic Aims to Raise Awareness
Calgarians will gather at an inaugural Parkinson’s Disease picnic on Saturday, hoping to bring awareness to Canada’s fastest growing neurological disease. Researchers, family, friends, and those diagnosed with Parkinson’s will unite at Prince’s Island Park to highlight the impact of the disease on local families and the progress of current research.
Calgary mother and daughter duo Gillian Savage-Knight and Jane Boyd, whose family has been deeply affected by Parkinson’s, will be among the attendees. Boyd, now 74, was diagnosed with the progressive neurological disease four years ago. Her daughter has witnessed the challenges her mother now faces with tasks that were once effortless, including running, which was a daily part of Boyd’s life.
Researchers at the University of Calgary’s Movement Disorder Clinic are exploring new therapies, such as ultrasound, to modify brain activity and alleviate symptoms. While these treatments provide some relief, the search continues for therapies that address the underlying cause of the disease, the degeneration of brain cells.
Savage-Knight remains optimistic about the future of Parkinson’s research and the potential for breakthroughs. Despite her mother’s cognitive decline and the limitations it has imposed on their shared activities, Savage-Knight believes that ongoing research will lead to advancements that will benefit those living with the disease.
