Let`s get Carl to The Parkinson`s World Congress!

Hi!

Dean here from The Dean Team. We are a group dedicated to advocating, and raising awareness and donations on behalf of Parkinson`s NSW to help those with Parkinson`s Disease (like me) live normal, productive lives.

Today, I`m coming to you to ask for your assistance in helping one of our own (Carl Edwards).

You see Carl, has decided to go to this year's World Parkinson`s Congress to be held in Barcelona, Spain.

The Congress is about sharing the latest information and breakthroughs and getting it out to the rest of the world. We believe and the Congress believes that the best way to do that is for Medical Professionals, Allied Health Workers and most importantly, those with Parkinson`s themselves to come together and relay that information back firsthand to our own Parkinson`s Communities.

Carl will be the one to do that for us, however, he needs our help. Traveling, being in other countries, and dealing with different languages as well as your symptoms and medications is hard enough (I know firsthand).

But I know there is one way we can help Carl bring this information back to us and ease his burdens and that is to raise donations and at least take the financial stress of a trip like this away from him.

Our goal is to raise $6,000 to fund his trip and associated costs and to let him know that the community around him has got his back!

Many (even small) donations add up, so I`m asking you now to make that donation and send the link on to your Family, Friends, Work Colleagues and anyone you think would like to get behind this very worthy cause and in doing so let Carl know he is not alone, we are behind him 100%.

As an added incentive for those who donate, when we hit our target, we will draw one name out of the donation pool and that name will win a 4-hour trip around Sydney Harbor (for 3 adults) by boat to sightsee, swim, fish, whatever you want including a light lunch and refreshments. What a great photo opportunity it would be for those overseas relatives visiting you or for you business owners out there showing some clients a great day out. You haven’t seen our harbor until you`ve seen it from the water.

We will also make 1 trip available for anyone who wants to make a silent bid for one by emailing me with the proceeds going straight to Carl`s fundraiser.

So, let`s dig deep, hit the link (I`ll be the first), donate, then send the link on to family, friends, and work colleagues and let`s show the world what our extended Parkinson`s Community is all about and send Carl on his way to the World Congress!

What a great story he`ll have to tell the other delegates at The Parkinson`s World Congress!

Un millón de gracias

Dean

Now!

Let's get to know a little more about the man himself!

My name is Carl Edwardes. Starting my second stage of life. Looking to embrace my PD and see where I go next. To kick off I want to go to Barcelona for TWPC and see what the world is doing to fight and treat PD. To do this I need help to raise $6,000 in the next few weeks. This is my story so far.

I spent the last 20 years working, living and having my 4 kids grow up at the CAMP KEDRON conference center in Ingleside. After some very caring people noticed changes in me, they encouraged me to see a doctor. So off I went to see a Neurologist. Never thinking that I would be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). That was in July 2015. Not understanding my condition and what the future would hold for me. Time went on and I started to see that PD was affecting every part of my life. Jumping ahead to 2023 and a lot has changed. My marriage of 19 years was over. My PD symptoms had progressed such that I could no longer fulfill my role at camp. Stopped work at the start of 2022 and am now on the Disability Support Pension. With more time to focus on PD treatments.

Unwavering support from my family and friends. Plus, all the support I receive through the NDIS. We arrive in 2023. Looking for what is next and how I move forward.

The first heard about The World Parkinson’s Congress (TWPC) was listening to a podcast hosted by a guy with PD more than a year ago. I heard about it again through my YOPD support group guest speaker the CEO of Parkinson's NSW. Where she encouraged us to go. TWPC is in Barcelona it will be attended by several thousand People. It will be people like me with PD as well as carers of people with PD, Doctors, and Allied Health Professionals. All the latest medical news and newly available treatments will be discussed. I’ve been part of a worldwide study for the last 2 and a half years. I have been 1 of 165 people from around the world in this study. It would be great to meet up with others on the same study. Travel hasn’t been on my mind at all. But I see this as an opportunity to do something for myself and learn more about PD and how I can help others with PD.

For this, I need $6,000 to cover flights, accommodation, and entry to the conference. As I Start my second stage of life, I see being exposed to the world's efforts to fight PD at the TWPC as an amazing kickstart to my next chapter.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Carl

For more information about the Parkinson’s World Congress: https://wpc2023.org/