PORT ANGELES — October is filled with special activities for people with Parkinson’s disease and those who care for them.
“We have an amazing offering of events during the next week,” said Darlene Jones, a coordinator of the Parkinson’s disease support groups that meet in Port Angeles.
The support groups for caregivers and patients won’t meet at their usual times today or Oct. 24, since the following programs are coming up.
A dance class — open to Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis patients as well as those who have suffered strokes — will be led Thursday by Corrie Befort and Deborah Magallanes, teachers who specialize in adaptive dance.
Admission to the 2:30 p.m. class is a suggested $10 donation, though caregivers and spouses are invited to come free. The place is the Sons of Norway Hall at 131 W. Fifth St.
Saturday program
On Saturday, a free educational program and box lunch will start at noon with Dr. Jennifer Witt, medical director of Seattle’s Swedish Neuroscience Institute.
“Parkinson’s Disease: An Update” is the name of Witt’s discussion, to be held in the Peninsula Room at the Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St.
This presentation is sponsored by Teva Neuroscience. To reserve a space and a lunch, phone 877-229-4532, ext. 1035806.
Next Wednesday, Oct. 24, Dr. James Leverenz of the University of Washington Medical Center will give a free talk titled “The Pacific Northwest Udall Center: An Update on Local Parkinson’s Research.”
The 2 p.m. program will be in Linkletter Hall at Olympic Medical Center, 939 Caroline St.
Registration is encouraged for Leverenz’s talks to info@waparkinsons.org or 206-277-5516. More information about this talk, sponsored by the Washington chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association, is at www.WAparkinsons.org.
“Dr. Jennifer Witt and Dr. James Leverenz are two of the top movement-disorder neurologists in the Northwest,” Jones emphasized.
“We are so lucky to have them coming to Port Angeles.”
For more information about these activities and the support groups for people affected by Parkinson’s disease, phone 360-457-5352 or email djones@olypen.com.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
