Apr 22

Apr 22 Team Henry Parkinson's Walk: Honoring loved ones and raising awareness

Parkinson's disease is a debilitating neurological condition that affects millions of people worldwide. In the United States, approximately 60,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson's every year.

“April is Parkinson's Awareness Month,” said Judy Heath, the facilitator for the Kinston Parkinson’s Support Group.

Team Henry Parkinson's Walk. Photo: Kristy Kelly/Neuse News.

The Kinston Parkinson’s Support Group is an organization that is committed to supporting people with Parkinson's and their families. The group meets every third Wednesday of the month at the Airy Grove Christian Church, where they share their experiences, discuss the latest developments in Parkinson's research and treatment, and offer support to one another.

One of the group's most significant events is the annual Parkinson's Awareness Walk, organized by the facilitators of the Kinston Parkinson’s Support Group. The walk was held at UNC Lenoir Health Care and was called "Team Henry" in honor of the late Henry Heath, the husband of Judy Heath. The event was sponsored by UNC Lenoir Health Care and Airy Grove Christian Church.

The walk was a great success, with members and supporters of the Kinston Parkinson’s Support Group walking the track at UNC Lenoir to raise awareness about Parkinson's disease. The event was an opportunity for the group to come together and show their support for one another while also raising awareness about Parkinson's disease in the wider community.

Parkinson's disease is a complex neurological condition that affects different people in different ways. While there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, there are treatments available that can help manage the symptoms of the disease. The Kinston Parkinson’s Support Group is committed to providing support, information, and resources to those affected by Parkinson's disease in their community.

The group's monthly meetings provide a safe and supportive environment for people with Parkinson's disease and their families to come together and share their experiences. The group also invites speakers to provide information about the latest research and treatments for Parkinson's disease.

“We're just proud that we could open our church at a time when COVID was rampant to let them meet,” said Bonnie Killingsworth, of Airy Grove Christian Chruch, “And they're a blessing to us at every meeting that we go to.”

Parkinson's Awareness Month is an opportunity for people around the world to come together and raise awareness about Parkinson's disease. The Kinston Parkinson’s Support Group's annual Parkinson's Awareness Walk is just one way that the group is working to raise awareness about the disease and support those affected by it. By coming together and sharing their experiences, the group is making a real difference in the lives of people with Parkinson's disease and their families.

Neuse News is a locally-owned small business startup in downtown Kinston. Our goal is to provide free, hyper-local news to Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties. The kind of news our grandparents read in a format fit for today's times.

We provide this by having supportive advertisers and we encourage you to click on their ads, shop with them, and eat with them. Every bit of financial support is important to help us sustain free, hyper-local news.

Please consider supporting Neuse News with as little as $5 one-time or via a monthly option. Every little bit helps us, help you.