World Parkinson's Day 2018
To mark World Parkinson's Day on 11 April, we teamed up with the European Parkinson's Disease Association and other organisations around the world to #UniteForParkinsons, a global campaign that aimed to show what Parkinson's truly is.
Even though approximately 10 million people around the world are living with Parkinson's, the public are still relatively unaware of the condition and many of its symptoms. To change this, we launched a video showcasing real life stories of people with Parkinson's from across the world talking about some of their symptoms, challenges and achievements.
The video had an amazing impact with thousands of views around the world. On Facebook alone, we reached over 187,000 people!
People also shared their own stories on social media using the hashtag #UniteForParkinsons. We were overwhelmed by the support shown, with more than 16,000 people from 99 countries using the hashtag on the day.
On top of that, our hard-working media team ran a 24-hour media marathon and secured more than 130 pieces of coverage with a total reach of more than 1 million.
And our amazing supporters raised awareness up and down the UK by organising activities including fundraising and dance workshops. The Kelpies in Falkirk were lit up in Parkinson's blue, while flashmobs in Newcastle and Stockton brought together live bands with local dance companies.
All of this wouldn't have been possible without your support. Thank you to everyone who got involved, whether you watched the video, shared your story or put on an event. It was an incredible day!