Urgent: With Canada Post on strike, our letters are not reaching Canadians.

This means Parkinson Canada is facing a fundraising emergency. We need your help right now. Please make an online donation or call 1-888-664-1973 to donate today and show people living with Parkinson's that we are in this together. Your generosity has never been more important.

Dear John,

Hello, my name is Larry. After my Parkinson’s diagnosis 12 years ago, I struggled with its life-altering impact and found the lack of reliable information frustrating. But after deciding to live with Parkinson’s and not let it define me, the possibilities ahead became clearer.

My goal now is to ensure people with Parkinson’s know where to turn when they receive a diagnosis and for ongoing support. That’s why the work of Parkinson Canada is so critical – and why I’ve become involved on the Board of Directors and Parkinson Advisory Council.

In these final weeks of 2024, we are looking ahead to the growing demand for our programs and services. More than 110,000 Canadians live with Parkinson’s right now and thousands more will be diagnosed next year alone. The need for information, support, research, and advocacy has never been greater – and will continue to grow.

In response, we must take action, John. Your support today will help ensure Parkinson Canada is ready to meet the need. And thanks to a generous gift from the late Jeanne Olliver, every dollar you give will be matched until December 31, 2024, while matching funds last. Your kind donation will go TWICE AS FAR to help explore what is still possible.

Here’s a sneak peek of the work Parkinson Canada is planning for next year and the impact you’ll make possible:

●      Connecting people to trusted local supports through CareFinder, an online directory of 2,400+ Parkinson’s-informed healthcare professionals, programs and services geared to the needs of people living with Parkinson’s.

>Your support will keep this resource up-to-date for the increasing numbers of people accessing it. 

●      Empowering care partners through peer-to-peer support that matches trained volunteer mentors with people living with or caring for someone with Parkinson’s.

>Your support will help train more mentors and empower more care partners to find community and build resilience. 

●      Fueling research breakthroughs through investments to improve Parkinson’s diagnosis, treatment and care.

>Your support makes you a funder of the promising scientific work that is required for addressing the mysteries of Parkinson’s. 

●      Advocating strongly to reduce the financial hardship of Parkinson’s on families and mitigate its growing costs to the healthcare system, which this year alone total $3.3 billion and are expected to rise to $4.4 billion by 2034.

>Your support will help us push for government action including access to affordable medications, better financial assistance and disability supports, and timely, proactive healthcare from Parkinson’s specialists.

There’s a sense of urgency that comes with a Parkinson’s diagnosis, John. The progression of the disease varies greatly from person to person, as do its symptoms. Not knowing how or when symptoms will change can be overwhelming. I understand these feelings well, because I’ve had them too.

But even though Parkinson’s can disrupt many aspects of daily life, we will not let it define us. For me this meant reclaiming my life and discovering activities like music and writing.

With your gift to Parkinson Canada, you’ll help other Canadians living with Parkinson’s explore what redefining the condition looks like for them, and provide them with access to the tools and resources to help them do just that. Donate today. Not only will your gift be matched for double the impact, but you’ll receive a tax-deductible receipt!

Thank you in advance for your support.

Warm regards,

Larry Linton

Member, Parkinson Canada Board of Directors and Parkinson Advisory Council

Living with Parkinson’s since 2012

P.S. Remember my goal to help people with Parkinson’s find reliable information? Your donation to Parkinson Canada helps make that possible, so people can benefit from the right support to keep on dreaming and pursuing big goals. Give now, and you’ll receive your 2024 charitable tax receipt right away.