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The source of this article is Orillia Today: http://tinyurl.com/6qjmf Parkinson officials worried about campaign Frank Matys: Orillia Today A local Parkinson support group is working overtime to distance itself from an agency with a similar name, but altogether different intentions. "There is a lot of concern for us about this," said George Heathwood, president of the Orillia chapter of the Parkinson Society of Canada. Heathwood is going the extra mile to ensure local residents don't confuse his organization with the Nova Scotia-based Parkinson's Support and Research Society, recently stripped of its right to issue tax receipts after a federal audit found it squandered more than $1 million in donations, according to a Toronto Star report. "We are afraid people might associate us with this group," Heathwood told Orillia Today. Putting out the word is more important than ever, as volunteers prepare for an all-important fund-raising drive, which culminates with the Super Walk on Sept. 26. "A lot of people will just remember the word 'Parkinson', and when our people approach them for donations, they'll say they read something a month ago." The legitimate, Orillia-area support group has raised more than $120,000 for Parkinson research and services over the past seven years, each September turning to the community for financial support in anticipation of the Super Walk event. All pledges are turned over to the Parkinson Society of Canada, the only recognized national organization working on behalf of those with the disease, he said. The non-profit charity has for several years lobbied Revenue Canada "to protect Canadian donors from Parkinson Support and Research Society." To that end, the federal revenue agency last month issued an injunction preventing the east-coast organization from issuing receipts. "In no way is Parkinson Society Canada affiliated with Parkinson Support and Research Society," the first organization said in a statement. "Parkinson Society Canada continues to be in good standing with Revenue Canada, and as such, is able to issue receipts for contributions." Affecting more than 100,000 Canadians, Parkinson is a degenerative neurological disease. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn