Fighting Back Against PD in a Whole New Way

Showing your support in the fight against PD can be easier (and more fun!) than you think. Today, more people than ever are fundraising to support the PD community and using their hobbies, passion… and a little creativity to do so. For young men like Alexander Rodriguez and Jaskeerat Gujral, joining the fight against PD was as easy as picking up a video game controller or following a passion for neuroscience.

For Alex Rodriquez, a new socially distant hobby, developed during the early months of COVID-19, proved to be a great way to raise money for APDA. Using a video game streaming platform, Alex hosted a 24-hour stream and played his favorite video game for nearly a day straight (with friends taking over so he could nap or eat). He encouraged his followers to donate and by the end of his stream, he had raised $2,195!

Jaskeerat Gujral’s interest in neuroscience and PD began long before it touched his own family ― and then after he lost a family member to the disease, he knew he had to act. While sponsoring his own do-it-yourself fundraiser with the goal of $2,000 for PD support and research, Jaskeerat also found a mentor in Dr. Sachin Kapur, a clinical neurologist based outside Chicago. Together, the duo has been investigating the effects of an herbal supplement on people with PD since last August.

People around the world are getting involved and using their interests and hobbies to create their own fundraisers to support people affected by PD and drive new scientific research ― and you can too.  You can make a difference with your passion by visiting the DIY section of our site today.