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Each year, the Parkinson's Disease Society holds an Awareness
Week to raise the profile of the Society, give a focus for
fundraising efforts across the UK and increase people's
understanding of Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's Awareness Week 2009 will take
place from Monday 20 April to Sunday 26 April. We will use this
week to launch the Parkinson's Disease Society's 40th
anniversary.
Highlights from
Parkinson's Awareness Week 2008
Survey report released: 'Life with Parkinson's today –
room for improvement'
 To mark the launch
of Parkinson's Awareness Week 2008, the Parkinson's Disease
Society released the key findings from the largest ever survey in
the UK of people with Parkinson's and carers of people with the
condition.
The survey, completed by more than 13,000 people with
Parkinson's and carers, provides a significant insight into all
aspects of life with the condition. It includes information about
the experiences of diagnosis, access to healthcare services,
information needs and the social impact of Parkinson's.
To find out more about the results of the survey, and to
download the PDS report, 'Life with Parkinson's today – room for
improvement' visit our members' survey
page
Media activity
 Many
people with Parkinson's and carers shared their story of life with
Parkinson's, helping the Parkinson's Disease Society to secure a
significant amount of media coverage. Articles were published in
You magazine, the Daily Record, The Scotsman, The Telegraph,
Belfast Newsletter, ITV Meridian, The Daily Post and South Wales
Argus.
Jane Smith, a woman with Parkinson's from Sheffield appeared on
the BBC Breakfast sofa, as well as on Sky Radio News, BBC
Sheffield, BBC Southern Counties and in the Sunday Express.
Parkinson's Disease Society President, Jane Asher, worked with
us on championing the need for better services. Jane appeared on
The Today programme, BBC Breakfast, Channel 4 lunchtime news and on
a large number of regional radio stations. She also wrote a piece
for the Saturday Express, mentioning Parkinson's Awareness
Week.
Activities across the UK
During Parkinson's
Awareness Week 2008, many of our branches, support groups and
supporters worked tirelessly to fundraise and to promote the work
of the Parkinson's Disease Society locally.
Activities included fundraising events, information days,
supermarket collections and Parties for Parkinson's.
National events
 The London Marathon, which is the largest single
fundraising event for the Parkinson's Disease Society each year,
took place on the final day of Parkinson's Awareness Week. On
Sunday 13 April 2008, 155 runners took to the streets of London to
take part in the Flora London Marathon, covering over 26 miles in
their bid to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the
Parkinson's Disease Society.
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