Dr Parkinson’s birthday – a date to remember

World Parkinson’s Disease Day marked its 19th edition this year, a time of celebration for Parkinson’s associations around the world

World Parkinson’s Disease Day (WPDD) was established on 11 April 1997 – the birth date of Dr James Parkinson. It began as a joint initiative between Parkinson’s Europe and the World Health Organisation to raise awareness of the disease. Looking back on 19 years of history, we highlight some of the unique and historic World Day events put on by Parkinson’s organisations around the world.

World Parkinson’s Disease Day timeline, 1997–2016

1997

The inaugural WPDD set a high standard with the launch of Parkinson’s Europe Charter, which clearly laid out the rights of people with Parkinson’s (PwPs) in terms of disease management. The Charter gained the support of influential people around the world including HRH Princess Margaret, Princess Diana, UK prime ministers John Major and Tony Blair, Pope John Paul II, opera singer Luciano Pavarotti and boxing legend Muhammad Ali

2002

WPDD celebrations coincide with the tenth anniversary of Parkinson’s Europe.

2003

Muhammad Ali signed Parkinson’s Disease Global Declaration.

2005

The ninth WPDD marked the 250th anniversary of James Parkinson’s birth and the Luxembourg association launched the Red Tulip as the official symbol of the disease. The launch proved very effective and gained the support of many high-profile individuals, including Queen Silvia of Sweden.

2006

Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus and winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace, signed Parkinson’s disease Global Declaration.

2007

The Luxembourg Parkinson’s organisation celebrated its 15th anniversary along with WPDD by releasing 150 balloons into the air. The balloons represented the ‘Hidden Face of Parkinson’s’.

2008

In a unique experiment, the Danish association filled an apartment with thousands of polystyrene balls to recreate the movement difficulties experienced by PwPs. Those without Parkinson’s could immerse themselves in a situation where they could feel what it was like to live with the disease on a daily basis.

2012

This year was extra special as Parkinson’s Europe celebrated its 20^th anniversary. A record-breaking 36 Italian cities took part in Italy’s Run for Parkinson’s (below) where 20,000 people ran nearly 120,000 kilometres in total.

Meanwhile, over in Slovenia, their initiative grabbed national attention to the point where the country’s first lady at the time, Barbara Miklic Tuerk, made an appearance in a show of support.

The Luxembourg organisation also celebrated two decades of existence, while Ethiopia celebrated its first WPDD.

2013

In Slovenia they went one further in terms of high-profile visitors. The President, Borut Pahor (above), made an appearance at the WPDD meeting in Ljubljana where he signed Parkinson’s Europe’s Pledge for Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s UK used WPDD to support their ‘Put yourself in my shoes’ campaign, aimed at rectifying public misconceptions of the condition. It culminated in a two-metre-high shoe placed in London’s Piccadilly Circus (below).

Parkinson’s organisation in Ireland carried out its first Unity Walk.

2015

World Parkinson’s Program announced the recipients of the Dr Rana International Parkinson’s Community Service Award for the year 2014. The award recognises the outstanding contribution to Parkinson’s cause of up to three individuals from around the world. Olie Westheimer, Executive Director of Brooklyn Parkinson Group, was among those honoured.

The Hungarian organisation celebrated with a walk across the Széchenyi Chain Bridge (below) that spans the River Danube in Budapest. Armed with colourful balloons and tulips, around 300 people participated in the walk which received media coverage in two national television channels and 30 journals.

2016

This year, the Hungarian organisation will take a ship tour down the Danube. Personal messages of support for patients and their families will be read at the event before supporters release balloons containing the messages into the air and throw tulips into the water from the ship.

What did you do to raise awareness this World Day? Tell us about your activities on Twitter!

This article was originally published on 11 April 2015 and updated on 11 April 2016