American Parkinson Disease Association, Rhode Island Chapter

09/10/2025

🎾 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐃 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲! 🎾

We’re excited to announce a brand-new Pickleball program led by Patty Winderman and John Cabral! These first clinics are free to attend—a perfect chance to come out, learn the game, and have some fun.

📍 𝐔𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬:

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟓 𝐚𝐭 10:30 𝐀𝐌 – 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐 𝐚𝐭 12:30 𝐏𝐌 – 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭, 𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 (𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞)

Come try something new, stay active, and connect with others.
👉 For more info, contact Patty at pjmreid@gmail.com

09/08/2025

✨The Optimism Walk Committee is made up of volunteers who share their talents and passion to make this day inspiring for all.

Today we highlight Luke Davis:
"I’ve been involved with the APDA Optimism Walk for several years, and this year is especially important to me because I’m now an APDA Board Member & also a Silver Sponsor with Spaulding Rehabilitation of Care New England. The APDA does such amazing work in the community. I’m proud to be a part of the team!"

👟 Will we see YOU at Warwick City Park on Saturday, September 27? Walk, run, and celebrate with us — together, we bring hope to those impacted by Parkinson's!

Register today:
https://secure.qgiv.com/event/apda2025ri/

09/06/2025

🗓️ Mark Your Calendar: Save the date for the Parkinson’s National Day of Action on Tuesday, September 9!

As a member of the Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council, APDA will be joining forces with advocates across the country to urge federal and state governments to support Parkinson’s research and care. Stay tuned for how you can and make your voice heard!

09/05/2025

🍁 September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month.⁠

For people with Parkinson’s disease, balance challenges, freezing of gait, dyskinesias, and other symptoms can increase the risk of falls. The good news? There are steps you can take to stay safer and more confident.⁠ APDA has expert tips, resources, and programs to help you reduce fall risks and keep you on your feet:⁠

🧎‍♂️Spaulding Rehab is putting on a great Fall Prevention Event on Friday, September 19 at Spaulding Outpatient Rehab, East Greenwich, 1351 S. County Trail Road (Building 2)

At this event you can take part in a FREE fall risk screen and review home safety modifications. Call 401-886-4650 to register!
https://www.kentri.org/services/spaulding-rehab/outpatient-rehabilitation

More resources online:
⁠
💻 Learn more about common causes of falls and get practical tips to combat those issues and make your home safer at apda.link/Balance

📺 Watch the Falls Management Session from this year’s APDA Virtual Parkinson’s Conference here:
apda.link/2025Conference⁠

09/04/2025

💚 Every gift makes a difference! 💚

When you give to the RI Optimism Walk & 5K Fun Run to support our mission, YOU help keep people connected, informed, supported, and moving.

👉 Learn more about our programs, register for the Optimism Walk & 5K Fun Run, or donate today: www.apdaparkinson.org/RI

We hope to see you in a few weeks on September 27, at Warwick City Park!

09/03/2025

✨ NEW Support Group Just for Teens
⁠
If you’re 13–19 years old and have a parent living with Parkinson’s disease, you’re not alone. APDA is launching a virtual support group just for teens to connect, share, ask questions—or just listen and hang out with people who understand.⁠
⁠
Come once, come every month, whatever works for you!⁠
⁠
❤️ Just for Teens: A Parkinson’s Support Group⁠
📅 First Thursday of every month (starting October 2, 2025)⁠
🕖 7pm ET / 4pm PT⁠
📍 Zoom⁠
⁠
To register, email Anushka Shiell, MS, at
ashiell@apdaparkinson.org
⁠
📣 Share this post if you know someone who might be interested!⁠
⁠

09/02/2025

✨ The Optimism Walk & 5K Fun Run is just 24 days away! Here's your daily dose of Optimism:

Every step you take at the Optimism Walk fuels APDA’s mission — delivering programs and supporting families living with Parkinson’s disease right here in our community! Your support helps APDA Rhode Island provide grants for innovative community programs that give people living with Parkinson’s access to exercise, education, and wellness opportunities.

Together, we are walking toward brighter days.

👉 Will you join us today by registering your team, donating, or inviting a friend to walk with you?
https://secure.qgiv.com/event/apda2025ri/

Let’s make these next 24 days count — and let’s do it together.

Every day, APDA provides the support, education, and research that will help everyone impacted by Parkinson’s disease live life to the fullest.

09/01/2025

This Labor Day, we honor the dedicated caregivers, healthcare workers, and researchers whose daily labor makes a difference in the lives of those living with Parkinson's disease. Your compassion, expertise, and tireless efforts don't go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do. 💙

08/29/2025

✨ Meet the incredible people behind the 2025 Optimism Walk & 5K Fun Run! ✨

Our Walk Committee members dedicate their time, creativity, and passion to help us plan this inspiring day for the Parkinson’s community. We are so grateful for their ideas, energy, and commitment to making this a meaningful event for all. 💙

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing more about some of these amazing committee members — and why they walk and serve.

🤩Today, we highlight Dan Shine: "I joined the APDA RI Optimism Walk Committee in 2025 to honor my wife Katherine who died of complications of atypical Parkinson's Disease in 2024. We loved to walk and hike all over the country over the years. She was a hero to her family and friends because of her grace and grit in living with all her strength to the end."

Will we see YOU on Saturday, September 27 at Warwick City Park? 👟
https://secure.qgiv.com/event/apda2025ri

08/28/2025

Whether you're walking, dancing, painting, singing, or sharing your story, you're showing what it means to live life to the fullest with Parkinson’s disease.

Tell us in the comments how YOU live fully with Parkinson’s – it might be exactly what someone else needs to get motivated! ⬇️

08/27/2025

⏰We are just one month away from the 27th Annual Optimism Walk & 5K Fun Run on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Warwick City Park.

💜This inspiring event unites hundreds of families, friends, healthcare professionals, and advocates for a powerful day of community, hope, and action in support of those impacted by Parkinson’s disease (PD). If you haven’t registered yet, now’s the time — the countdown is on! ⏰

We’re here to support you every step of the way:
• Have questions about the registration site? Just let us know.
• Need help with your fundraising goals? We can offer tips and guidance.
• Planning a team fundraising event? We have customizable flyer templates ready for you to share — reach out and we’ll send one your way!

As always, your optimism inspires everyone working on this mission. Together, we’re creating a stronger, more supportive Parkinson’s community here in Rhode Island and beyond.

We can’t wait to see you on September 27!
https://secure.qgiv.com/event/apda2025ri/

08/25/2025

Friends, we have an exciting DIY Fundraiser update for you:

Paul Harrison Realtor at RE/MAX and family, from Team RICABOR recently completed a perimeter ride around Block Island — 25 miles in just over 7 hours — in support of the 27th Annual RI Optimism Walk & 5k Fun Run for the Parkinson’s community.

Paul says "I put together a short video with photos, clips, and a route map so you can see the day from start to finish! Your encouragement and generosity meant so much. Thank you."

Watch his video here:
https://bbemaildelivery.com/bbext/?p=video_land&id=aff7e4e2-058b-46eb-8539-8425acfab421

Thank you, Paul, for being a Parkinson's hero!

🙌Join Paul and so many others who are filled with hope at optimism, at the big event on September 27:
https://www.apdaparkinson.org/community/rhode-island/