The Annual PUW
The 14th annual Parkinson’s Unity Walk, the largest grassroots fundraiser for Parkinson’s research in the country, was held in NYC’s Central Park on Saturday. It’s a one day per year event (with work behind the scenes all year) that has grown from a couple hundred walkers in 1994 to today’s several thousands of walkers. The dollars raised for research has also grown over the years, with this year’s total being 1.3 million thus far! While the number is certainly impressive, the push is always for more donations for research until the disease is cured.
I’ve been honored to be associated with the PUW, doing its print work and photography for several years. Plus, Derry (my business partner) and I have also designed and built their website. This year is the seventh that we photographed the Walk, with Derry taking all of the official team photos and me taking everything else. It’s work we thoroughly enjoy and look forward to.
For more information on the Walk, including how you can get involved to participate in future walks, or to make a donation, please visit unitywalk.org.
Here are some photos from the event:
Some of the thousands who came out to walk.
The gorgeous Michelle Charlesworth, ABC News anchorwoman, was the emcee extraordinaire.
Martin Tuchman, Chairman of the PUW, holding the Proclamation from Mayer Bloomberg, and Janet Reno, the first female Attorney General of the U.S, both speakers at the event.
The beautiful MayMay Ali inspired the crowd with her uplifting poem written specifically for this event, something participants have enjoyed for the past couple years. MayMay is also extremely active in Team Parkinson, another PD organization that operates of out LA. We also did TP’s website, and you can learn more about that organization here.
Even dogs were walking!
Before and after the Walk, everyone is invited to stroll “Find a Cure” boulevard where plenty of educational materials is freely available (plus all kinds of other stuff, like water bottles, backpacks, food, and so on).
Again, visit the Unity Walk website and consider getting involved.