Parkinson’s Education and Support Group to meet Aug. 8

The Parkinson’s Education and Support Group of Sussex County will meet from 2 to 3 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 8, at the Lewes Public Library.

Those with Parkinson’s disease, their family members, caregivers and friends are cordially invited. 

Representing the Michael J. Fox Foundation will be Marge Fleming-Smith of Lewes, foundation ambassador, and Debi Brooks, foundation CEO and co-founder. Also presenting will be Betsey Coulbourn, state director in the office of U.S. Rep Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Delaware.

Brooks will share the story about how Parkinson’s disease researchers have discovered a new tool that can reveal a key pathology of the disease: abnormal alpha-synuclein, known as the “Parkinson’s protein,” in brain and body cells. She will explain how attendees can become engaged in research, clinical trials and the new initiatives of the Michael J. Fox Foundation including the PD Buddy Network.

Also a Parkinson’s Foundation ambassador, Fleming-Smith will share benefits of joining the local group, and how she started advocating state and federal legislators for the needs of more than 4,000 people in Delaware. She remains updated on the needs of PD community members by facilitating monthly statewide PD caregiver sessions and publishing on the Parkinson's Sussex County DE Support Group on Facebook.

Coulbourn will discuss how Blunt Rochester and Sen. Tom Carper, D-Delaware, are fighting for those with PD by co-sponsoring the bi-partisan National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act currently in both the House and Senate.

Attendees will receive free education and support materials, learn about Aware in Care PD hospital safety kits, news on the Parkinson’s Foundation hospital initiative including extensive online courses for ambassadors and hospital staff, and hear about the benefits of becoming a Michael J. Fox and or Parkinson’s Foundation ambassador.

“I am honored to represent the Parkinson’s community to our state and federal legislators on important issues including increasing federal funding for Parkinson’s research programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense.” said Fleming-Smith. “You can join me in reaching out to our senators and representatives year-round at town halls on Facebook and local meetings, and through email and phone calls. Equally as honorable though, is the opportunity for us to come together with you, to share our journey and how you can become involved with working like our nation’s leaders to get things done for those with Parkinson Disease. Together, we will make our powerful work count.”