WINSTON-SALEM — The Parkinson’s Foundation will host its second annual Moving Day Winston-Salem, A Walk for Parkinson’s, at Bailey Park in Winston-Salem on April 27. The Triad’s event is one of more than 40 grassroots events taking place across the country this year. Funds raised through Moving Day will support cutting-edge research, educational resources and community programs to improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease and their families.

One million Americans are living with Parkinson’s, with 60,000 people newly diagnosed each year. Moving Day Winston-Salem is a fun and inspiring fundraising event that unites the community in the fight against Parkinson’s. Since 2011, Moving Day events across the country have raised more than $17 million to improve care and advance research toward a cure.

“Moving Day is a fun, educational and very empowering experience for people affected by Parkinson’s Disease and their families,” said Dr. Jessica Tate, movement disorder specialist at Wake Forest Baptist Health Department of Neurology. “But mostly, the support of the community enables us to continue to make meaningful improvements in the lives of those with Parkinson’s in N.C. and to highlight the importance of exercise.”

More than just a walk, Moving Day Winston-Salem is a celebration that will raise awareness about the importance of movement by featuring eight movement stations highlighting activities like boxing, yoga, dance, tai chi, pilates and more. In addition, there will be activities for children and caregivers along with representation from many of the organizations throughout the Triad that offer services for those with Parkinson’s.   

Carol Gearhart, whose husband, Brent, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 39, serves on the Moving Day Winston-Salem Planning Committee, said, “It means the world to see Brent, my friends and our incredibly supportive medical community coming out to bring attention to the Parkinson’s disease. Living each day with Parkinson’s can be challenging, but better treatments, programs and research make all the difference. This event gives us hope.”

Funds raised through Moving Day support the Parkinson’s Foundation national mission by delivering expert care to more than 100,000 people living with Parkinson’s; funding cutting-edge research to advance toward a cure; providing free resources for people living with Parkinson’s and their families.

To learn more about Moving Day and how you, your family and friends, and/or your company can get involved, go to www.movingdaywinstonsalem.org . Moving Day is made possible, in part, through the generous support of national partners Acorda, Right at Home, Adamas, Lundbeck, Acadia, and Amneal, as well as local partners Sunovion, Wake Forest Baptist Health, Abbott and US WorldMeds.