Parkinson's Awareness Week
Each year, we hold an awareness week to raise the profile of the
charity, giving a focus for fundraising efforts across the UK and
increasing people's understanding of Parkinson's.
Parkinson's Awareness Week 2010
Parkinson's Awareness Week 2010 will take place from 19 to 25
April, concluding with the Virgin London
Marathon on Sunday 25 April.
Parkinson's Awareness Week 2009
20 - 26 April 2009
Parkinson's Awareness Week 2009 was extra special because it
took place during the Parkinson's Disease
Society's 40th Anniversary. In 2009 we celebrated our research achievements over the past 40
years.
With over 700 pieces of media coverage, Parkinson's
Awareness Week 2009 was the most successful to date, reaching at
least 53 million people.
Parkinson's Brain Donor Appeal
 We launched the
Parkinson's Brain Donor Appeal during
Parkinson's Awareness Week 2009. The appeal was an attempt to
double the number of registered brain donors by the end of
2009.
Brain donation is vital in the search for a cure for the
condition.
A number of well known supporters, including Jane Asher and John
Stapleton, are involved with the appeal. Read more
about our Parkinson's Brain Donor
Appeal supporters
During Parkinson's Awareness Week, the appeal reached wide
audiences and resulted in huge increases in enquiries to our
helpline, website and the Parkinson's Brain Bank
Media highlights
Some key media highlights were:
- 738 pieces of media coverage in 4 days
- Appearing on BBC Breakfast on the Monday reaching over 1
million viewers
- A
Daily Mail feature article reaching over 2 million
readers
- Being interviewed on BBC Radio 2's Jeremy
Vine show, reaching 13 million listeners
- Coverage in over 70 regional newspapers
- Reaching a total of at least 53 million people
Outcomes of this coverage included:
- Visits to the website being 3 times our previous best
- 850 enquiries to our freephone helpline
- As many email requests to the Parkinson's Brain Bank in 1 week
as they've had in the last 6 years
Watch Jane
Asher talking about the Parkinson's Brain Donor Appeal on BBC News
Branch and individual activity
 During
Parkinson's Awareness Week 2009, hundreds of our branch and support
group members and other supporters organised events such
as parties, charity concerts, raffles, football matches and
golf days to raise money and awareness.
Joanne Mellerup (pictured right with friend Michelle Williams),
from Dursley, Goucestershire was just one of the many fundraisers
putting on a Party for Parkinson's.
Joanne organised an 80s party in her local pub, raising over
£500.
Thanks to everyone who took part. Maybe you have been inspired
to hold your own event?
Flora London Marathon
 Parkinson's
Awareness Week concluded with the Flora
London Marathon, the biggest fundraising event of the year for
the Parkinson's Disease Society.
A huge thankyou goes to the 202 people who ran
through the streets of London in an attempt to raise £275,000 to
help support people with Parkinson's.
Read our news story Congratulations to
PDS Flora London Marathon team
|