Shake It Update: June 2024
Shake It Up Australia Foundation for Parkinson's Research
Funding Parkinson's Research to find better treatments and ultimately a cure.
Earlier this year, I was proud to gather with The National Parkinson's Alliance and fellow members of the PD and research community at the Australian Summit to End Parkinson’s at Parliament House. This event had one key goal: to advocate for urgent action to tackle the global Parkinson’s crisis. We are exceptionally pleased that the government has now recognised and supported this plea with an announcement of $800,000 in funding to develop and implement Australia’s first National Parkinson’s Action Plan (NPAP). You can find out more about this announcement and the NPAP here.
Research projects funded by Shake It Up continue to show promising progress and advance our understanding of Parkinson’s. A team of æ¾³å¤§åˆ©äºšæ˜†å£«å…°ç§‘æŠ€å¤§å¦ researchers led by Dr Richard Gordon recently received $4M in funding from the US Department of Defense to build on work previously funded by our Foundation, to develop new treatments for Parkinson’s disease by targeting the gut microbiome and gut-brain axis. This is groundbreaking research that has the potential to make a life-changing difference for people living with PD. You can read more below.
If you are looking for a way to get involved with the Parkinson's community, on June 30 you can join Parkinson's Queensland Inc. ,?Shake It Up Australia,?Restoring Hope Parkinson’s Therapy?and?The Parkinson’s Centre for a morning of family-friendly fun and a community walk, to celebrate the resilience of the PD community while raising essential funds for research. We invite you to purchase a ticket to secure your spot, or consider making a donation on behalf of Shake It Up if you are unable to make it on the day.
We are also just over a week out from end of financial year, and we thank everyone who has supported us with a donation this year so far. Every dollar we receive is a critical piece of the puzzle in advancing research towards better treatments and ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation before June 30 to give hope to the 200,000 Aussies currently living with Parkinson’s and the 38 people diagnosed daily.
Founding Director
Following the Australian Summit to End Parkinson’s in March, Shake It Up and the National Parkinson’s Alliance are thrilled to welcome the Federal Government’s announcement of $800,000 in funding to develop and implement Australia’s first National Parkinson's Action Plan.
The Plan will address the urgent needs of the Australian Parkinson’s community, calling for improvement across several key areas. This will include earlier detection and diagnosis, better access to evidence-based healthcare and treatments, improved prevention of PD, new and improved therapies, and greater funding for research.
The Hon Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Aged Care, says, “The National Parkinson’s Action Plan will provide a blueprint for managing Parkinson’s disease in Australia and support better health outcomes for people living with the disease.â€
You can find out more about the National Parkinson’s Action Plan here. Keep an eye on our channels for more updates about the next steps in this crucial work for the Parkinson’s community.?
Associate Professor Richard Gordon and his team at the Translational Research Institute Australia from æ¾³å¤§åˆ©äºšæ˜†å£«å…°ç§‘æŠ€å¤§å¦ were awarded two grants totalling A$4million from the United States Department of Defense to develop new treatments for Parkinson’s disease by targeting the gut microbiome and gut-brain axis. The research will test innovative new approaches to slow or stop disease progression, building on work funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research and Shake It Up Australia on the NLRP3 inflammasome and the gut microbiome. Learn more here.
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As the weather continues getting colder,?it’s?important to remember that Parkinson’s can increase your sensitivity to cold temperatures and winter may worsen your?Parkinson’s symptoms. We share some tips to manage your Parkinson’s (or help a loved one) this winter.?
Do you have a milestone birthday coming up? Did you know you can create a fundraiser for your birthday to celebrate with purpose and bring your family and friends together in support of Parkinson's research? Donations in lieu of presents for your birthday are a simple and effective way to raise money for Parkinson's research. Find out how to make your special occasion a chance to make a difference.
The Shake It Up Show is a podcast about Parkinson’s disease, hosted by Shake It Up ambassador Amy Ruffle. In the last month Amy has spoken to a range of guests, including
- Symon Badenoch, diagnosed with Parkinson's at 48
- Damien Noyce, a carer for his mother who lived with PD
- Natalie Farrugia, about her dad's PD journey and mum's carer experience
- Daniel Ruffle, Amy's brother, on their father's PD diagnosis
Family Fundraisers, Athletic Challenges and Business Ventures to Raise Funds and Awareness
This month we celebrate a range of Shake It Up fundraising heroes who have committed to personal passions or athletic feats to raise not only funds for research but awareness and understanding about the lived experiences of those with Parkinson's.