Parkinson’s Unity Walk (PUW) April 28, 2012!

18th Parkinson’s Unity Walk (PUW), April 28, 2012!

Join us for a gentle 1.4 mile walk in Central Park. Visit informational booths along Margot Zobel Way which will include Ask the Doctor, representatives from our sponsors, and seven major US Parkinson’s foundations.

Walking is optional. Stay and enjoy the day’s activities!

100% of donations go directly to Parkinson’s disease research.

The walk will be on 72nd Street Bandshell, Central Park, New York. Use 72nd Street Park entrance on Fifth Avenue or Central Park West.

REGISTRATION OPEN:      8:30 am to 1:00 pm
BOOTHS OPEN:                              9:00 am to 2:00 pm
WALK KICK-OFF:               9:45 am
WALK BEGINS:                    10:00 am

Registration Information: 

While there is no registration fee, we encourage all walkers to raise funds on behalf of the Walk. Remember, 100% of all donations go to research.

Go to the Registration booth only if you need to do any of the following:

• Pick up your Unity Walk T-shirt (if eligible).

• Walkers who donate or fundraise $75 by the day of the Walk and are present at the Walk will receive a T-shirt (for a team, average raised per team member is taken into account).

• Turn in your donations.

• Register for the Walk (if you have not done so online or by mail).

Any of our Registrars can help you on the day of the Walk. Go to any seated Registrar; there are no special lines; make only one stop to pick up shirts and turn in donations. All walkers are registered as individuals, even if they are part of a team -- there is only one envelope per walker so you will be sure to get credit as the fundraiser. We recommend that you allow extra time to go through Registration.

2012 PUW Final Registration Times:

Team Registration Deadline:  April 27, 2012 
(Team registrations will not be accepted on the day of the Walk.)

Deadline to Give and Turn in Donations:  May 28, 2012.

All donations received by May 28, 2012 will be credited to the 2012 Walk. 
(Donations where all information is complete and legible will be acknowledged by July, 2012.)

Refreshments:

No need to leave the park for lunch. Have a bite while you are visiting the informational booths along “Margot Zobel Way.” Four food trucks will be selling moderately priced food items throughout the day:  Eddie’s Pizza Truck, Gorilla Cheese, Rickshaw Dumpling Bar and The Treats Truck.

Chock Full o’ Nuts is generously donating coffee to all Walk participants. Look for their trucks by the Bandshell, near Registration and further down “Margot Zobel Way.”

Complimentary snacks and bottled water will be served at the Refreshments Booth. Bottled water will also be available at the Water Station by the Bandshell.

Teams:

Use the Team Meeting Area near the Bandshell if you are looking for a place to meet your group. 

Stop by the Team Photo Booth by the Bandshell and receive a printed copy of your photo to take home with you. You can also download a digital copy of the photo from the vendor’s website and forward it to your team members and supporters.

Accessibility:

Entire Walk route is wheelchair accessible. We do not provide wheelchairs.  Click here for rentals.

Golf Carts are available to pick up walkers who require assistance. Look for waiting areas for Golf Carts if you require transportation.

Some helpful tips:

• Light snacks and drinks will be provided. Pack a heavier lunch and extra drinks based on your needs.

• Each participant will receive a tote bag to hold information from our sponsors. If you think you’ll need it, bring a backpack to hold extra items while you walk. PUW Staff can not hold personal belongings while participants walk.

• Use the Team Meeting Area if you are looking for a place to meet your group.

• Make a sign in memory or honor of a friend or loved one at the Make-a-Sign Area.
  
• Strollers and pets are allowed in Central Park and along the Walk route.  Please be considerate of fellow walkers.  Dogs must on leash starting at 9 am, per Park rules.  General Park information about pets can be found here.

Important links:

• Map of Walk Route  

• Map of Margot Zobel Way 
  

• Day of Event Timeline 
  

• Map of Central Park

For more information on the PUW please see the link below:

http://www.unitywalk.org/eventinfo.php

Team Brennan, Bringing Awareness To Childhood Cancer!

Brennan is almost two years old & has

Stage 4 High Risk Neuroblastoma!

Brennan was diagnosed at 10 months old with Stage 4 High Risk Neuroblastoma. 10 months later he was diagnosed with a secondary cancer which had already metastazised to his liver and lung, and newly his brain. They're calling his secondary cancer " Secondary tumor of highly aggressive Undifferentiated Sarcoma." Brennan is just currently shy of 2 years old and has spent almost exactly Half of his life, fighting for his life. Brennan will turn 2 years old on May 26, 2012.

BRENNAN'S MOTHER CINDY HAS UPDATES & IS ASKING FOR YOUR HELP.

Please find it in your heart to see this tragedy through the eyes of Brennan and his family and help if you can. Thank you for understanding how hard it is for Cindy to ask for help and please share this with your friends and family so that we can get his story told and get him the help he so desperately needs.

I hate to even ask for this, but with everything happening so very fast for our family, and Brennans daddy, Blake Scurlock not having any vavcation to take only relying on FMLA which does not pay during your family leave. I have never asked for anything but prayers, but I have to swallow my pride and ask for help. I want Brennan to know that we have done everything that we could, and that Me (Cindy), blake and his sister Katelyn have and wil continue to be by his side, even as the goes into the arms of Jesus. I have to even know that we have to do this let alone say it. =(

Now Brennan has a fever =( Its so strange that now, given Brennans prognosis we wont be going through the "routine" of blood cultures. Just tylenol. Just seems so strange that now things like this, which are huge in the cancer world just wont be done anymore =( 1 more thing to make my nightmare a reality

There has never been a time I ask ever asked for help, but there isnt a way I cant this time. We have stuggled the last year and with everything now happening so fast, and never having prepaired for this, I have to swallow my pride and ask. =(

Below are links to Brennan's pages and where you can made a donation to his cause, thank you!

http://www.mccowen.net/
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/brennanscurlock
http://www.facebook.com/events/355971584449476/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brennan-Scurlock/214491795231031

Childhood Cancer Is Real & Need's A Cure!

More awareness needs to be raised about Childhood Cancer!

It's estimated that just over 11,000 children between infancy and age 14 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2011. Overall, cancer is rare in children (total cancer diagnoses predicted for this year is over 1.5 million), but incidence rates have been increasing slightly by 0.6% every year since 1975.

The good news is that while new cases are increasing, the mortality rate has been cut in half (53%) in that same time-period. This can be attributed to improvements in treatment and the high number of young patients who are participating in clinical trials.


But there is still reason for awareness and diligence in caring for our children's health. Though the mortality rate for childhood cancers is relatively small, only 1,300 children are expected to lose their battles with cancer compared to over 570,000 adults - it is still listed as the second-leading cause of death in children, surpassed only by accidents. One-third of the estimated deaths will be in children who are diagnosed with leukemia.

Early symptoms of cancer in children are usually non-specific. Children should be receiving regular medical checkups to help parents and doctors become familiar with what is "normal" for their health. Any unusual symptoms that persist can be investigated. If there is a suspicion of cancer, it's vital that it is caught early, avoiding a potentially health-threatening delay in diagnosis.

Some symptoms can include:

An unusual mass or swelling in any part of the body;
unexplained paleness and/or loss of energy;
Sudden tendency to bruise;
Persistent, localized pain;
Prolonged, unexplained fever or illness;
Frequent headaches, often with vomiting;
Sudden eye or vision changes; and
Excessive, rapid weight loss.

Major categories of childhood cancer and their respective symptoms can be found on the Ped-Onc Resource Center. As with any cancer, the best defense is a good offense. Know your children and their habits and health histories well, and visit with a doctor if you have concerns about their health.

Source:  http://hopecancerresources.blogspot.com/2011/09/when-patient-is-child.html

It Might Be Hope!

It's been a while since I felt this

but it feels like it might be

HOPE...

Source:   http://mosthopeful.com/tag/hope-quote/