Reach Further Campaign Hopes to Raise $30M for Research, Services
The Parkinson’s Foundation is launching a four-year, $30-million fundraising campaign to help advance Parkinson’s research and fund community services.
The Reach Further campaign seeks to help accelerate research, increase patient access to healthcare, and enrich community services for those affected by Parkinson’s disease.
“With the rate of Parkinson’s diagnoses on the rise … funding from this campaign will drive research toward new, superior therapies for people with Parkinson’s, expand our clinical care network across the U.S, and provide meaningful support to the Parkinson’s community,” John L. Lehr, foundation president and CEO, said in a press release.
The campaign will focus on helping scientists and researchers find the fastest routes to new and improved medicines and, ultimately, a cure.
Additionally, the funds will help expand the foundation’s clinical care network and add five to 10 more Centers of Excellence to the 47 currently in the network. These centers are staffed with teams of professionals in physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, and mental health, and are fully credentialed with movement disorder specialists and neurologists trained in Parkinson’s-specific issues. Each center has to demonstrate the ability to provide evidence-based and patient-focused care, and to conduct pertinent clinical investigations focused on patient needs. Each center also has to show leadership in professional training, and be meaningfully involved in patient education and community outreach.
Another goal of the fundraiser is to add more support services within local communities, expanding collaborations among community partners working with those affected by the disease. These efforts address issues such as mental health needs, care partner support, health and wellness concerns, and services for veterans and those newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
“This campaign will help us expand on our mission and attend to the needs of people living with Parkinson’s, their families and researchers,” Kayln Henkel, the foundation’s senior vice president and chief development officer, said.
“Reach Further will allow us to expand our reach across the country and have a true impact on the communities we serve,” she added.
Co-chairs of the campaign are Penn Egbert and John Raskin, previous foundation board members whose fathers were affected by Parkinson’s.
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