“When the cure for Parkinson’s is found — and it will be — it will be because of all of us.” -Michael J. Fox, actor, Parkinson’s patient and co-founder of The Michael J Fox Foundation

Finding a cure for Parkinson’s Disease is teamwork!

Not only is it going to take a lot of scientists working on a lot of theories in a lot of laboratories across the world. But with the risk-averse private sector only stepping in to develop treatments at a late stage, it is going to need a lot of funding from governments and charities. And charities, like the Demoucelle Parkinson Charity and our partner The Michael J. Fox Foundation, rely on lots of people stepping up and becoming fundraisers, just as the amazing people we highlight below have done.   

We really hope that you will be inspired by their stories and that you too will join the growing community of people that want to help find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

We, and others from #teambeatparkinson will do our best to support and encourage you along the way! (Links to resources provided below).

To quote Michael J. Fox again:

“Our challenges don’t define us, our actions do.”

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Inspired by a keen gardener, a group of 21 volunteers bought and packaged 20.380 tulip bulbs, selling attractive packets of 20 colourful and aptly-named ‘’Triumph’’ bulbs for 15 euros each. Over the course of two months, they sold and delivered 1019 packets to friends, family, neighbours and colleagues. Hopefully next Spring, around the time of World Parkinson Day on 11th April, gardens will be full of these beautiful blooms.  A wonderfully, symbolic fundraising initiative!

“Selling these tulip bulbs was a wonderful way for me to reconnect with so many friends and to make them aware of the importance of finding a cure for Parkinson’s Disease. It was a pleasure to participate,” said volunteer Magali.

Amount raised: 13791 euros

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Justine, aged 15, turned her mother’s kitchen into a biscuit-making ‘factory’, baking 700 cookies over the course of one weekend.  She then packaged the biscuits and sold them at five euros/pack to friends, family and visitors at a concert of her violin school Kortjakje.  

“It was really fun to do. I knew I would not raise a lot of money but every little bit counts and I was happy to be able to help,” Justine said. 

Amount raised: 325 euros

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During the first Coronavirus lockdown in early 2020, Isabelle kept herself busy sewing face masks for friends and family members.  She requested that in lieu of payment, they make a donation to the Demoucelle Parkinson Charity.

“It would have felt strange to have asked them to pay me but they wanted to acknowledge the effort I had made and asking them to instead support DPC seemed like a great win-win solution.”

 

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When Ivo was 62, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He decided to turn a long-held personal ambition to walk around Belgium’s borders into an opportunity to both raise awareness of this neurodegenerative condition and fundraise for vital research to find a cure. Ivo enlisted friends and former colleagues to help with the planning, communication and execution of the 1500-km walk. Beginning in August 2020, the Stop Parkinson Walk completed a 49-day tour of the country, accompanied along the way by many that walked with them, as well as TV and newspaper reports.

“At the moment there is not enough progress (in research) and there is also too little visibility. It is not talked about often enough in the media. I want to do something about that,” Ivo said.

Amount raised: 325000 euros

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Werner decided to run the Verona marathon and created an online fundraising page via the Demoucelle Parkinson Charity website. He asked friends, family and colleagues to donate to his chosen cause as a way to motivate him on the long, gruelling run and thanks to their generosity his original target of 5000 euros was exceeded

“I truly believe in their cause and know they put all their effort in to helping find a cure for Parkinson’s within the next decade,” he wrote on his iraiser page.

Amount raised: 6131 euros

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Alexander, a young scientific researcher, organized two classical music concerts: ‘Music for Parkinson’. The Kosmo Quartett, along with Magdelaine Demoucelle, Justine Meulemans, Lucas Verley, and Alexander, performed infront of audiences of about 50 people.

“Running is not one of my talents, so instead of taking part in the Run for Parkinson’s, I decided to take a different approach and set up a new project. Together with my mom I organized a benefit concert ‘Music for Parkinson’ for the DPC. My mother took care of the organization, while, with the help of some friends, I took care of the musical program.”

Amount raised: 5000 euros

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Nikla did not know much about Parkinson’s Disease until meeting Patrick & Anne-Marie Demoucelle, but once she realised that so little is known about the causes and there is no effective cure yet, she wanted to help. She set up a Facebook fundraiser with a goal of 100 euros as a way also to educate her Facebook friends about the disease and how important it is to invest now in our future brain health.

“I was so surprised by the response, but I think that many people know someone who has been affected by Parkinson’s Disease or dementia and they hope that by supporting research now they might be spared the same when they are older.”

Amount raised: 150 euros

 

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Singing teacher Kristien organises an annual Christmas carol singing event with her students in support of the Demoucelle Parkinson Charity. In 2020, because of the coronavirus pandemic, she moved the event online, creating a YouTube video and a Facebook fundraiser page. Together they managed to beat their target! You can enjoy her students’ singing by clicking on this link: 

https://www.facebook.com/donate/1794387014062811/ 

Amount raised: 540 euros

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There are several ways you could help to raise funds for Parkinson’s research:

For more fundraising ideas, please download Demoucelle Parkinson Charity_Fundraising Ideas_Feb 2021_EN for an inexhaustive list of suggestions …. and join the Facebook #TeamBeatParkinson community.

Finally, if you would like to brainstorm with someone about how you might fundraise, or get some support from an experienced fundraiser, please don’t hesitate to send an email to: info@demoucelle.com   We would be happy to help you!