Fundraiser for Parkinson's Foundation Inc.

This fundraiser was created in behalf of John A. Gillis to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease.  

Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that impacts the Central Nervous System of an individual, causing nerve cell damage in the brain and lowering dopamine levels to induce its degenerative physical and mental effects. Parkinson’s affects motor skills, perception, memory, autonomic functioning, and cognitive ability, to create functional impairment. Parkinson’s is commonly known for being physically destructive, but what isn’t always acknowledged is its lasting effects on mental health as well. As a result of Parkinson’s, changes in dopamine and serotonin create a chemical imbalance in the brain, which can often lead to psychosis, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Furthermore, Parkinson’s patients are twice as likely to commit suicide than people from the general population, demonstrating the psychiatric impact & low quality of life this disease causes. Despite this, there is still no cure for Parkinson’s Disease. 

My Grandfather, (referred to as Papou due to his Greek heritage), suffered from Parkinson’s Disease for 5 years, and spent its duration forced to watch both his physical & mental health deteriorate before his eyes. Parkinson’s caused him an immeasurable amount of pain, that recently led to him taking his own life. 

Not much can help in grieving the loss of my Papou, except raising awareness and money to prevent this from happening to anyone else. Parkinson’s is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, yet there is still no cure for it.

I am raising money that will be donated directly to the Parkinson’s Foundation Inc. and any donation will be greatly appreciated by me & my family, as it will improve care & help fund research to eventually find a cure for Parkinson’s. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause. 

More information about Parkinson's Foundation Inc.: The Parkinson's Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson's disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson's community.