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The 26th Parkinson’s Unity Walk Goes Virtual! Join Us on Saturday, July 11th at 11:00 am ET and Support Awareness and Research for Better Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease

KINGSTON, N.J. (June 23, 2020) – The Parkinson Alliance announced today that the 26th annual Parkinson’s Unity Walk, our in-person event in New York City’s Central Park previously scheduled for April 25th, will now take place virtually on July 11th at 11:00 am ET. COVID-19 might have caused the Unity Walk to take a pause, but we know that Parkinson’s disease does not take a pause, and it is critical to continue to support vital research for the development of new therapies to improve the quality of life for those living with Parkinson’s disease. Since our supporters and our community cannot come to the Walk, we will bring the Unity Walk to them!

The Parkinson’s Unity Walk Virtual Celebration will take place on Saturday, July 11th, starting at 11 am ET, to support research and unite the community in the battle to eradicate Parkinson’s disease. “Now more than ever, providing the Parkinson’s community with avenues to continue to support each other is so important. Hosting our first Virtual Walk Celebration is a new way to bring our inspiring community together,” stated Martin Tuchman, Chairman of The Parkinson Alliance and the Parkinson’s Unity Walk.

As a countdown to the Unity Walk Virtual Celebration on July 11th, the Unity Walk launched a series of social media challenges, starting on June 18th. The Parkinson’s Unity Challenge incorporates favorite aspects of the Unity Walk in a new virtual experience and encourages supporters to reconnect with the Unity Walk community, hear & share stories of the impact of research, get active, and celebrate this inspiring & resilient community. All supporters are encouraged to post their social media challenges, and those who are not on social media can join us via email.

“The Parkinson’s Unity Walk is the largest single-day grassroots fundraiser for Parkinson’s disease research in the United States. In addition to an annual walk to raise funds and awareness for research, we are a community and education day. Due to challenges from the pandemic and to keep everyone safe – our goal is to bring the community and education, to our supporters – wherever they may be. Components of our annual Walk Day will be incorporated into the Virtual Celebration,” explained Carol Walton, President & CEO of The Parkinson Alliance, and Executive Director of the Parkinson’s Unity Walk.

On July 11th, we will launch our Unity Walk Celebration webpage where virtual walkers, friends, and family can visit the Unity Walk key areas as they would in Central Park. Walkers can visit the Partner Alley and view resources provided by sponsors and foundations to learn about current medical therapies and support that is available for them. “We are pleased and excited to share with everyone that this year is truly unique because these valuable resources are not just available for a day. They will live on our website until April 2021 and continue to bring our community together,” added Carol Walton.

Virtual walkers can participate in activities, including viewing exercise demos and downloading crafts at the Kids’ Zone. In a Celebration Video, participants can hear from members of the Unity Walk family, including May May Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali; Ken Aidekman, Co-Founder of the Parkinson’s Unity Walk; teams and participants highlighting the importance of our community; and foundations underscoring the importance of funding and research.

With the backing of our supporters, we have funded hundreds of studies since the Unity Walk’s inception in 1994. We are proud to partner with our sponsors. Diamond Sponsors of this year’s event include Adamas, Amneal, Kyowa Kirin, Lundbeck, and Sunovion. Platinum Sponsors include Abbott, AbbVie, Acadia, Acorda, Axovant Gene Therapies, Boston Scientific, De Oro Devices, LSVT Global, Medtronic, Neurocrine Biosciences, PMD Alliance, US WorldMeds, Vertical Pharmaceuticals, and Voyager Therapeutics.

Thanks to our partners, one hundred percent of donations go directly to Parkinson’s disease research funded by four leading organizations: American Parkinson Disease Association, Parkinson’s Foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and The Parkinson Alliance.

To learn more, register, and donate, visit our website at unitywalk.org or call (866) 789-9255.

Donations received by August 8th will count towards the 2020 Parkinson’s Unity Walk.

About The Parkinson Alliance
The mission of The Parkinson Alliance is to raise funds for research to end Parkinson’s disease, support the development of new therapies, and improve the quality of life for those living with the disease through patient-centered research and resources. The Parkinson Alliance is the umbrella organization for the Parkinson’s Unity Walk, Team Parkinson, and other fundraising events held around the country; combined, we have funded over $32 million in research since our founding, including donations raised by the Parkinson’s Unity Walk.

Contact
Debbie Ayers
Event Manager
Parkinson’s Unity Walk
(866) 789-9255
info@unitywalk.org
www.unitywalk.org

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