American Parkinson Disease Association - APDA Northwest Chapter

Magic of Hope Gala & Auction is coming up on March 8 at Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle, raising funds for local support, education, and research. We hope you can join us! You can find more information and buy tickets at https://lnkd.in/gkeHEY7N. Our Magic of Hope 2025 theme is STRENGTH - because strength is what unites us. There is strength in numbers, in compassion, and in the power of community. Strength isn’t just about the fight against Parkinson’s disease, it’s about the people who stand beside each other through every step of the journey. Together, we can amplify this strength, providing vital support, education, and resources to everyone impacted by PD. Thank you to Premier sponsor Cameron Catering, Platinum sponsor Niagara Cares (Niagara Bottling), and Gold Sponsor Trident Seafoods for your ongoing support and generosity!

We're hiring a new Director of Development! Please share with anyone who might want to join the dynamic team in our Seattle office in this very rewarding field. Contact Kirsten Richards with any questions. https://lnkd.in/gePVEjHC

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Arash Fazl to the APDA Northwest Board of Directors. Dr. Fazl is a fellowship-trained, board-certified neurologist with a specialized focus on Parkinson’s Disease and atypical Parkinsonism syndromes, such as progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy. His philosophy of care centers on empowering patients with Parkinson’s Disease by providing them with comprehensive knowledge about their condition. Dr. Fazl believes in fostering a collaborative relationship with his patients, encouraging them to become active partners in their own care to achieve the best possible outcomes. Through this approach, he aims to enhance not only their understanding but also their quality of life as they navigate these complex neurological conditions. We look forward to collaborating with Dr. Fazl to improve APDA's ability to support people impacted by PD in our community. Welcome to the APDA team! EvergreenHealth

This morning we held our first Partner Breakfast, where we honored our past and current sponsors and supporters, shared APDA accomplishments and successes, discussed creative ways for our partners to make an impact, and rolled out our Parkinson's Workplace Partnership program. We are working hard to get the word out about Parkinson's disease and how APDA can provide support, education, and resources to fill in the gaps between doctor appointments. We want everyone to know they can turn to APDA early in their diagnosis - and at every stage along the way - to access vital connections and community. This is where you come in! We are looking for businesses who want to collaborate with APDA to come up with creative ways to make an impact. Making a difference doesn't always have to involve sponsorship dollars - it can be volunteering, lending expertise, procuring auction items, opening up your professional network for potential connections, and much, much more! Interested in hearing more about our Workplace Partnership program? Reach out to Kirsten Richards or Heidi Murdock (Schaiberger)! Thank you to Trident Seafoods, Diane Bundrant, Jessica McNeil-Clapp, Cameron Catering, Suzanne Cameron, Karen Nelson, Sunrise Senior Living, Paul Sivesind, With a Little Help, Inc, University of Washington, Kelly Bender, Dwight Jones, Eric Jones, Foushée, Ashica 🤍, Ashlee Lowe, Harman Kaur, MHA, MBA, MA, Adrienne Miller, Heart'n Soul Hospice ... and many more that attended! We appreciate all of you and look forward to future collaborations!

Join us in welcoming Paul Herber to our APDA Northwest Board of Directors! Paul brings a breadth of marketing experience to the Board. From communications, advertising, sales promotion and e-commerce, Paul is looking forward to help strengthen and grow the impact of the APDA. "I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in October 2019. Overwhelmed by the news, as well as the need to learn about the condition, what to expect and the impact it would have on my life, I found the APDA materials to be invaluable. I was introduced to the more personal side of the APDA through fellow board member Brian Harris and his young onset activity group, SEAYOPD. After signing up to help raise funds via the Optimism Walk and engaging with the highly approachable and dedicated staff from the NW Chapter, I decided I wanted to do more to support the PD community." Welcome to the APDA Team, Paul! Parkinson's is the fastest growing neurological disease and someone in the US is diagnosed every 6 minutes. Interested in learning more about APDA and/or how we can bring Parkinson's Awareness to your business? Check out our website at apdaparkinson.org/nw or message Kirsten Richards, Executive Director.

We are thrilled to introduce Shirin Sarikhani as a new APDA Northwest Board member! Shirin's advocacy for Parkinson's disease began when her husband Keihan was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's. Their journey in getting the proper diagnosis and finding the best care for him inspired Shirin to support others in the PD community. Born in Tehran and raised in the US, Shirin graduated from Rhodes College with a degree in science. Later, she moved to the UK where she studied design and welcomed her two daughters, Rhoya and Roshan. She is the Founder and CEO of Seattle Staged to Sell & Design. When she isn't running her thriving business or advocating for quality Parkinson's care, Shirin loves cooking, gardening, traveling, reading, and spending time in nature. Welcome to the team, Shirin Sarikhani!

APDA Northwest Chapter is pleased to welcome four new Board members as our class of 2024. We will be introducing them to you throughout the next week. First up, Brandi Chambers! Here’s how Brandi explained her motivation for joining the APDA Board: "My mom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 12 years ago. I often feel helpless, but the Parkinson’s community always makes me feel stronger and supported. The more knowledge I have, the more I feel empowered. I want to share what I’ve learned with others. Many patients rely solely on their doctor appointments for information. They don’t know it’s crucial to gather information between appointments. I look forward to helping make valuable information more accessible to patients, caregivers, and families… no matter where they live. Parkinson’s can be isolating, scary, and overwhelming, and I hope to show families there is a loving community out there and we welcome everyone with open arms. I am honored to be a new Board member for the APDA. I can’t wait to get started!" Brandi is a real estate broker in the greater Seattle area. She loves spending time with her friends, family, and her rescue pup, Tahiti. Welcome to the team, Brandi Chambers!

APDA is raising funds and STEPPING UP to put an end to Parkinson's disease with two Optimism Walks in September! A big thank you to our partners Cameron Catering, Niagara Cares, and TwinStar Credit Union for their collaboration and generosity as we make huge strides together to improve the lives of people with PD. Join us at the Optimism Walk in Seattle on Sept 21 or Olympia on Sept 28. Don't miss this PD community and connections event of the year! Learn more and register at https://lnkd.in/gqng92P9 Thank you to our partners who proudly support the PD community: Foushée, Marina Management, Aegis Living, Oyster Bay Public Affairs (Amy Brackenbury), Maple Valley Movement Neurology, GenCare Lifestyle Senior Living (Ballard Landmark), Thrive Community Fitness (Lacey), Olympia Federal Savings (OlyFed), Caring Transitions, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates, OLYMPIA TRANSITIONAL CARE AND REHABILITATION, Summit Rehabilitation, and Highline Physical Therapy. Thank you for STEPPING UP to help put an end to Parkinson's disease.

We want your insights! Send us your thoughts with this short, important survey that asks for input and feedback from you--- the PD community. We want to learn more about what you need and want so we can better serve you. Your voice is valuable and will help us shape our future programs. This survey is available in English and Spanish. ¡Queremos saber sus perspectivas! Envíenos sus opiniones a través de esta breve, e importante encuesta, la cual pide su aportación-la comunidad de Parkinson. Queremos saber más sobre lo que necesita para poder servirle mejor. Su voz es importante y nos ayudará a crear futuros programas. Esta encuesta está disponible en inglés y en español. English: https://lnkd.in/eXUMPR8K Spanish: https://lnkd.in/eDjwmqN3

Passing the National Plan to End Parkinson's Act was a legislative victory and marks a significant step forward for the PD community. Interested in learning what all the fuss is about? Join us on June 17 when American Parkinson Disease Association President & CEO Leslie Chambers and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Senior VP of Public Policy Ted Thompson will discuss the latest updates on the status of this new law, explain why it is so important, and answer many of the big questions you may have, including: • What happens next with this new law? • How can people get involved? • When can we expect to see progress? • And so much more! REGISTER TODAY! https://lnkd.in/ggAeXDMM