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NEWS
SPOKE
Now deep thoughts
Monday, April
April
11,
2011
Parkison’s
is
with Conestoga College
...
Random
questions answered by
Awareness Month
random students
you could vote for any cartoon character for Prime Minister, who would it be and why? If
By NATHAN RIENSTRA It’s a disease that affects every aspect of a Waterloo man’s hfe, and yet, according to him, it’s a disease of which there is very httle awareness. “I hadn’t even heard of Parkinson’s up until the point where I was diagnosed with it (in 1999),” said Fred Dobbs, a 58-year-old resident with young onset Parkinson’s dis-
“Fry from Futurama,
because he would probably do a better job.”
Casarin,
Bill
third-year
software engineering
ease.
I
events will be taking place across Canada to make individuals more aware of the disease and give them a chance to help those who have been diagnosed. “(I appreciate) that you don’t have to repeat the same mistake others have made,” said Dobbs when discussing what he appreciates about Parkinson’s Awareness Month. “You just learn from
“Spider-Man, because he’s
awesome, and wears and he’s a hero.”
But April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, which means Parkinson’s awareness
tights
Emily Kroetsch, first-year
pre-health sciences
others’
“Johnny Bravo, because why not?”
Brandon Sipes, third-year
business administration
-
marketing
“Batman, because he’s like
a vigilante.”
Kelli
Oshanek, third-year
business administration
- marketing
endeavours
and
attempts to make life easier.” Dobbs, who hardly gets any sleep lately due to muscle contractions, said his leg cramps up right from underneath the arch of his foot and up his calf and thigh.
Parkinson’s currently affects nearly 100,000 Canadians, both male and female, from all ethnic backgrounds, and it’s anticipated that this number will double by 2016. Parkinson Society Canada defines Parkinson’s as a neurodegenerative disease caused by a deficiency of dopamine. Since movement is normally
dopamine — a chemical which carries signals between the nerves of the controlled by
brain - the symptoms of Parkinson’s appear when cells that normally produce “Peter Griffin, no real reason.”
Ryan Stokle, first-year
design communication
dopamine die. The most common symptoms of Parkinson’s are tremors, slowness and stiffness, impaired balance and rigidity of the muscles, but fatigue, soft speech, problems
fundamentals
PHOTO BY NATHAN RIENSTRA see more public awareness of Parkinson’s disease. Fred, who has young onset Parkinson’s, was diagnosed in 1999. Karin and Fred
with
Dobbs
handwriting,
of Waterloo
stooped
posture, constipation and sleep disturbances are other
known symptoms. “Parkinson’s has different
symptoms
for
different people,” said Dobbs’ wife, Karin.
“Some people get more of the shakes, and Fred (experiences) more the rigidity (and) the stiffness part.” Though there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s, the symptoms are treatable with medication. “(But)
you can see that in
the movements, when the medication wears off, Fred becomes very stiff and it’s hard to just do things that you would do everyday,” said Karin. Jessica Graham, Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario’s assistant co-ordinator of special events in Waterloo Region, said that after working with the Parkinson Society for about a year now, “It’s been crazy to
amount of people with Parkinson’s and how widesee the
spread it is and how they live day-to-day with Parkinson’s.” “Every week I’m doing something to build up for the events,” she added. A complete list of the upcoming Parkinson’s Awareness events throughout Canada
would
like to
can be viewed at www.parkinson.ca, including the annual Cut-A-Thon which will take place on April 17. Some of the area’s most exclusive hair salons will be working with
Parkinson Southwestern
Society Ontario.
Participants who pay $35 will receive a wash, cut and style from a prominent salon, as well as a free gift of Joico professional salon products. All funds raised from the event will go to assisting local pro-
grams and services for people living with Parkinson’s. “I
think
market
it’s
...
to the
a good way to younger areas
of students,” said Graham when talking about the CutA-Thon, adding that
Parkinson’s awareness seems noticeably lower in the Kitchener- Waterloo area than Parkinson Society Canada
would like it to be. Those interested in participating in the Cut-A-Thon can call 1-888-851-7376 or visit www.cutathon.ca. Other ways individuals in the region can help those with Parkinson’s any time include donating to, volunteering for
becoming a member of Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario. Go to www.parkinsonsociety.ca for more information. or
LAST-DITCH EFFORT “Tom Pickles from Rugrats because it’s my favourite show from when was a I
kid.”
Richard LeBlanc, first-year
general arts and science
Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent! •200t JQ^n KroM www.Mt-oollnt.com