Parkinson's Disease Foundation Displays Global Quilt in Scotland on September 28

NEW YORK, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) is pleased to announce the first public display of the Parkinson's Quilt in Glasgow, Scotland, from Tuesday, September 28 through Friday, October 1.  The quilt, created by more than 600 people living with and affected by Parkinson's disease (PD), makes its debut at the 2nd World Parkinson Congress (WPC).

The Parkinson's Quilt is the first initiative of its kind to focus the world's attention on the nearly one million people in the U.S. and estimated seven to 10 million people worldwide living with Parkinson's.   It aims to raise awareness of the impact that the disease has on individuals living with it and on the community's urgency to find a cure.

The quilt is comprised of personalized 2' by 2' panels, which use photos, illustrations and other items to tell the stories of lives affected by Parkinson's.  Its creators – people living with Parkinson's, their spouses and care partners, children, grandchildren, friends and other loved ones – hail from 14 countries, including 46 of the 50 states in the U.S., and five of the 14 Canadian provinces.  

This display will be accompanied by the creation of a "Living Quilt," an activity booth onsite where WPC attendees can sew new quilt panels and speak with quilters from around the world.   After the quilt's first international display this week, it will be offered for rental in 2011 to individuals and groups around the world to ensure that it continues its journey raising awareness.

PDF Executive Director Robin Elliott noted, "Each quilt panel has a story to tell, whether it was created by a person with Parkinson's about his or her experience, or by a care partner, family member or friend, in honor of a loved one living with the disease.  These individuals illustrate the truly global nature of the quilt, and of Parkinson's disease.  When the quilt is displayed for the first time this week at the World Parkinson Congress, it will radiate the contributions of these individuals and others like them who have been touched by Parkinson's.  It will also remind the world that we need increased awareness and funds to find a cure."

The Parkinson's Quilt is an extension of PDF's Creativity and Parkinson's Project, a program that seeks to explore, support and encourage the therapeutic value of creativity in PD.   To learn more about the quilt or to view it online, please visit www.pdf.org/quilt.

PDF would like to thank the leading sponsors and in-kind donors who made this project possible, including: American Airlines, Anonymous, Biotechnology Industry Organization, Broadridge Financial Solutions, FedEx, Focus on a Cure Foundation, Frances Granlund, Hewlett Packard-HP, Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, Samsonite Luggage, Schering-Plough and Sue Smith.  Special thanks are also extended to The Names Project Foundation-AIDS Memorial Quilt.

About Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly one million people in the U.S.  Although promising research is being conducted, there is currently no cure for Parkinson's.

About the Parkinson's Disease Foundation

The Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) is a leading national presence in Parkinson's disease research, education and public advocacy.  We are working for the nearly one million people in the U.S. who live with Parkinson's by funding promising scientific research to find the causes of and a cure for Parkinson's while supporting people with Parkinson's, their families and caregivers through educational programs and support services.  Since its founding in 1957, PDF has dedicated over $85 million to fund promising scientific research and over $34 million to support people with Parkinson's and their families and caregivers through educational and advocacy programs.

SOURCE Parkinson's Disease Foundation