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HISTORY
of the
CENTRAL
VALLEY PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP
In August, 1994, about six of us met at the home of Don and Dolly Black to organize a Parkinson’s Support Group
in our area. We had all participated in the Fresno Parkinson’s Support Group, but we became 8-10
individuals traveling the distance between Visalia and Fresno once a month, so we decided there may be
a need to organize a group in our area. With the help of the Fresno group and national organizations, we
did form a group in Visalia. We named ourselves the Visalia Area Parkinson’s
Support Group and chose to meet the first Friday morning of the month. We have met continuously since
our inception, omitting July, at the Visalia United Methodist Church. It is both gracious and handicapped-friendly.
We meet from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Our name has changed, however, using the name Tulare-Kings
Parkinson’s Support Group for several years. At our April, 2008, meeting we changed our name to the Central
Valley Parkinson’s Support Group. I believe our first meeting had 13 people in attendance.
We now have 30-45 people at each meeting. We currently are applying for non-profit status and have
developed, with much donated help from Screen Radio.com, we now have a web site, www.cvpsg.org, and a logo. Our desire for non-profit status is to raise
funds for research to cure this progressively debilitating disease and to raise the necessary funding to promote education
for those in the professional care-giving field.
Our primary emphasis is on the loving, caring support
of those with Parkinson’s Disease, their caregivers, their friends, and their families. Fellowship
is enhanced by concluding our meetings with a light catered lunch. Those who come donate $3 a person, more or less.
People do not hold their elected offices for a specified period of time. They hold their offices
as long as that “works” for the individual, because Parkinson’s does not progress at specified rates. Our
primary purpose is to be a support group. We treasure the help anyone can give whenever
he/she/or they can give it, but primarily we treasure the person. We have no paid staff;
all of us who serve are volunteers.
The CVPSG informs its members about Parkinson’s through speakers, articles, and the national organizations.
In seeking to raise community awareness about the disease, on April 25, 2009, we will hold our 3rd Annual Parkinson’s
Walk. 100% of the donated funds will go to the Parkinson’s Unity Walk, which raises funds for research into
the cure of Parkinson’s Disease. Those funds are distributed to seven highly respected national organizations.
There are costs associated with this Walk, however, and we need non-profit status in order to raise the necessary funds
to sponsor the Walk.
We are also
in the process of providing information to Nursing Homes and other caregivers about the specific needs of the individual with
Parkinson’s Disease, and how best those needs can be met. There is an opportunity to provide seminars
and training in Parkinson’s care to those professionals who work with Parkinson’s patients. Sending
professionals for this training requires funding. We need the donations that a non-profit status can provide.
We are a progressive, on-going, and caring group. It helped my husband and me, and I am grateful to still
be a part of it.
submitted by Mary Dickerson
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