National Parkinson Foundation Gives Fundraising a Novel Twist

--Dutch Island Author Donating Proceeds of Book Sales—

MIAMI, Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) is entangled in a mystery – and the national organization is glad of it. A just-released mystery novel titled Dutch Island is generating attention – and money – for NPF. A Parkinson's disease patient and his wife "star" in the comedic thriller that channels all proceeds from its print edition sales to the foundation. 

"This is a really fascinating, unusual book that is part fiction, part history lesson and part testimonial to Parkinson's patients and their families," says Joyce Oberdorf, NPF president and CEO. Reviewers agree calling Dutch Island, "a riveting mystery mixed with laugh-out-loud humor" bundled between nonfiction bookends that are powerful stories in and of themselves. 

The novel takes its title from an eighty-acre island situated off the coast of Rhode Island. The uninhabited plot of land has a long, largely ignored history summarized in the book's epilogue. It is the backdrop for a life-or-death showdown at the close of the novel.

"Two of the principal fictional characters in the book are based on the author's sister-in-law and his brother who has battled Parkinson's for over thirty years," says Bernard Fogel, M.D. who wrote the introduction to Dutch Island. Fogel is dean emeritus at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine and NPF board chair. "The couple's story-ending heroics are memorable, but their day-to-day lives are even more inspiring." 

The book closes with a profile of Rick Weeden, a Portsmouth, RI resident and one-time Raytheon Corporation engineer.  His wife, Betty, is the retired director of surgical services at Newport Hospital.

"The novel's mix of mystery and humor makes for a great read," notes Oberdorf. "But the author's non-fiction epilogue is even more compelling as it spells out how Parkinson's affects patients and how critical family caregivers can be."

Dutch Island is available through Amazon.com and at www.parkinson.org/dutchisland. All proceeds from the sale of this book to benefit the National Parkinson Foundation.

About the National Parkinson Foundation
Founded in 1957, the National Parkinson Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of care for people with Parkinson's disease through research, education and outreach. NPF has funded more than $164 million in care, research and support services. For more information about NPF, visit www.parkinson.org or call 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636).

About author Curt Weeden
The former Johnson & Johnson vice president is founder of the Association of Corporate Contributions Professionals (ACCP) and a leading voice in the U.S. philanthropy field. His earlier novel, Book of Nathan, has won critical acclaim as have his three nonfiction books. For more information visit, www.curtweeden.com.

Media Contact:
Leilani Pearl
NPF Director of Communications
305-243-7951
[email protected]

SOURCE National Parkinson Foundation