The PJ Parkinson’s Support Group of Blount County was formed in 2015 as a place where people dealing with Parkinson’s disease could give and receive practical and emotional support. The group brings together those with the disease, their care partners and others to discuss concerns and share mutual experiences on all aspects of Parkinson’s disease as well as to raise awareness.
Two upcoming events are planned to benefit the support group and to continue its mission of raising awareness about Parkinson’s disease and ways to manage its symptoms. The Light Up the Night for Parkinson’s gala will be held Sept. 15 at The Barn Event Center in Townsend, and the third annual 1K walk-a-thon will be held Sept. 30 at Jack Greene Park, part of the Maryville Greenway, behind the Blount County Courthouse.
Light Up the Night for Parkinson’s is the inaugural gala held on behalf of the support group, said Isabell Senft-Daniel, one of the people who spearheaded the formation of the support group and serves as its vice president. She is Shannondale of Maryville’s wellness director and a certified instructor in a treatment called LSVT BIG and LOUD that has shown promise for those with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease.
The gala, cocktail dress/black tie optional, begins at 6:30 p.m. Joan Cronan, former women’s athletics director at the University of Tennessee, will emcee the event.
“We will have a cocktail hour, dinner, a live auction, and entertainment and dancing with the band Soulfinger,” Senft-Daniel said. “Tickets are $100 per person.”
Appetizers will include a cheese tray with baked brie, chicken salad tarts and seafood stuffed mushrooms. The entrée will be a choice of Beef Wellington or baked cod topped with fresh herb butter served with salad, seasonal vegetable medley, roasted red potatoes and dinner rolls. Dessert will be cheesecake with fruit.
“We have some fabulous items for the live auction,” Senft-Daniel said. “We have a painting that belonged to the co-producer of ‘The Hunger Games,’ who was actually a graduate of Maryville High School. His mother donated the painting.” Stephen Lee Davis died in January at the age of 61. During his career as an assistant director or director, his many film credits include “Marley & Me,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” “The Hunger Games,” “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Collateral Beauty.” He worked extensively on television shows such as “Sex and the City,” “Ed” and “30 Rock,” where he also directed several episodes. The painting is by H. Howe and was donated by Davis’s mother, Joann Myers.
Sculptures, paintings, Hummel figurines and an original piece from Kenya have also been donated for the auction as well as services, such as the chef at The Barn Event Center preparing dinner for four cooked and served in the winner’s home. The University of Tennessee has donated two Terrace seating tickets with parking pass for the UMass game on Sept. 23, two Terrace seating tickets with parking pass for the UGA game on Sept. 30, a 10- by 10-foot pop-up tailgate canopy, a custom golf umbrella, two footballs, two basketballs and two Lady Vols basketballs. To see all available auction items, and to register for the gala, see the www.PJParkinsonsWalkGala.com.
Raising awareness of Parkinson’s disease will also be part of the gala. In addition to a video message from several well-known celebrities who have been diagnosed with the disease, some of Blount County’s prominent citizens plan to reveal their own diagnosis.
If you go
WHAT: Light Up the Night for Parkinson’s
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15
WHERE: The Barn Event Center, 7264 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend
TICKETS: $100 per person
REGISTRATION: www.PJParkinsonswalkgala.com
MORE: PJ Parkinson's Support Group of Blount County's third annual 1K walk-a-thon will be held Sept. 30 at Jack Greene Park behind the Blount County Courthouse. Registration, 8:30-9:30 a.m.; walk begins at 9:30 a.m. Cost is by donation; minimum donation of $15 per person suggested; register at www.PJParkinsonswalkgala.com
Walk for awareness
PJ Parkinson’s Support Group of Blount County’s third annual 1K walk-a-thon will be held Sept. 30 at Jack Greene Park, part of the Maryville Greenway, behind the Blount County Courthouse. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the walk, which is for everyone, begins at 9:30 a.m. There is no fee to register but a suggested donation of $15 per person would be appreciated. A T-shirt and goody bag will be provided for those who pre-register at www.PJPar kinsonswalkgala.com.
The support group meets from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every fourth Thursday of the month at the Community Center at Shannondale of Maryville. A second support group has been formed in Knoxville and meets from 4:30-6 p.m. every second Tuesday of the month at WellPark by Shannondale, off Middlebrook Pike in Knoxville.
To learn more about the support groups, visit the website at www.pjparkin sons.com.
http://www.thedailytimes.com/community/gala-promises-to-light-up-the-night-for-parkinson-s/article_55eaac36-6241-5d23-8c31-9355d0862c61.html
No comments:
Post a Comment