Parkinson's Unsung Heroes Honored for Their Dedication and Impact
Celebrating Local Heroes: Parkinson's NSW Launches Community Recognition Program
In an exciting move to honor the unsung heroes in our communities, Parkinson's NSW kicked off the Parkinson's Community Heroes program. The initiative, established in celebration of Parkinson's Awareness Month, offers local Support Groups a chance to shine a spotlight on their devoted supporters, thereby bolstering their presence within their communities.
The ingeniously designed program acknowledges the local community legends who wholeheartedly support their nearby Support Groups. A whopping 18 Support Groups eagerly seized this opportunity to drum up some local buzz:
- Chinatown Bilingual
- Coffs Harbour
- Dubbo
- Eurobodalla
- Illawarra North
- Inner West
- Kiama
- Lismore
- Maitland
- Nambucca Valley
- Narrabri
- Nepean/Blue Mountains
- Newcastle
- Orange
- Port Macquarie
- South Coast Young Onset and Nowra
- Snowy Monaro
- Tweed
According to Support Group Coordinator Felicity Jones, nominations spanned a wide gamut—from high-ranking Politicians, diligent Allied Health Practitioners, supportive Community Organizations, to energetic Fundraisers.
"It was truly heartening to witness Support Groups utilizing this novel platform to praise their local supporters while generating publicity. Here's hoping this initiative also proves to be a magnet, drawing in new participants," she expressed.
Jenny Dowell, a loyal deputy leader of the Lismore Support Group, was one of the recognized individuals. Meanwhile, Coffs Harbour's Parkinson's Nurse Vince Carroll and Owen Lednor, a devoted member of the Nambucca Valley Support Group, also earned a spot in the limelight.
As we move towards April next year, the team at Parkinson's NSW eagerly anticipates more Support Groups to join the Parkinson's Community Heroes program and celebrate their neighborhood heroes.
[1] Woollahra Council's Involvement in Supporting Individuals with Parkinson's[2] Shake It Up Australia Foundation: Dedicated to Parkinson's Research and Community Activities
- The Parkinson's Community Heroes program, initiated by Parkinson's NSW, encourages Support Groups to recognize local heroes in the field of health-and-wellness, particularly those who support individuals with medical-conditions like neurological-disorders such as Parkinson's, by nominating them for their dedication and contributions.
- As the Shake It Up Australia Foundation continues its mission in supporting Parkinson's research and community activities, it is hoped that the foundation might consider collaboration with local Support Groups to raise awareness and offer science-based support for individuals dealing with Parkinson's and other neurological-disorders.
