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Parkinson Society Canada to Host World Parkinson Day in Two Weeks! TORONTO, Apr 08, 2004 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- Parkinson Society Canada will welcome leaders, supporters and stakeholders from the Parkinson's community on April 21st for the 8th Annual World Parkinson Day. This international occasion takes place at the Delta Chelsea Inn in Toronto and brings key members of the Canadian Parkinson's community together with government and World Health Organization (WHO) representatives, to raise awareness and understanding of Parkinson's disease. Mary Baker, Chair of the WHO's Working Group on Parkinson's Disease, will speak about the global impact of Parkinson's and present the "Global Declaration of Rights for People with Parkinson's Disease" for signature. Barry Johnson, Chair of Parkinson Society Canada, and renowned neurologist and Parkinson's expert, Dr. Anthony E. Lang, will endorse this global effort on behalf of medical professionals. On hand to lend their support will be The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of State (Public Health) for Canada and The Honourable George Smitherman, Minister of Health for Ontario. Tom Pitfield will serve as Master of Ceremonies. His father, Senator Michael Pitfield, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in the late 1980's and is the Honourary Chair of Parkinson Society Canada. World Parkinson Day began in 1997 and is the brainchild of the WHO's Parkinson Disease Working Group. Six countries around the world have hosted this monumental occasion including United Kingdom, Argentina, Japan, Russia, Spain and India. "We're thrilled to be working on an international scale, without losing sight of the primary goal of our organization which is to deliver the most impact to Canadians living with Parkinson's disease," says Barry Johnson, Chair of Parkinson Society Canada. As part of Canada's commitment to raising awareness of the disease, Parkinson Society Canada will be announcing the development of a new resource for family physicians caring for people with Parkinson's. Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that causes a patient's motor functions to deteriorate slowly but dramatically over time. This disease is complex, hard to diagnose and random. It can strike ANYONE - women and men of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles. And while the vast majority of people with Parkinson's are over 60, 10% are diagnosed before the age of 50; many in their 30's and 40's when they are busy raising children and building careers. Parkinson Society Canada is a not-for-profit organization that serves as the national voice for Canadians living with Parkinson's disease. Its mission is to ease the burden and find a cure. Parkinson Society Canada helps improve the quality of life for people living with Parkinson's disease through research, education, advocacy and support services. SOURCE: Canada NewsWire, Toronto / Macro*World Investor http://www.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=90544901 * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn