Event to Benefit Parkinson Disease Research

A fundraising event to benefit research in Parkinson disease is being held in honor of a former Rochester resident who had the disease.

Vicki Aspridy and Janice Corea are hosting “Funk & Waffles for Parkinson’s,” featuring delicious waffles, live music, and more, in memory of their mother, Tarpa Aspridy, who had the disease late in life and passed away three years ago.

Funds raised from the event will benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). MJFF’s mission is to discover a cure for Parkinson disease and develop improved therapies for those living with the condition today.

 

The fundraiser organized by Aspridy and Corea will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, in the gardens of the Strong-Todd House, 693 East Ave., Rochester. Donation is $10.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation is the world’s largest private funder of Parkinson’s research, with more than $250 million in research investments since its founding in 2000. The foundation has partnered with the University of Rochester Medical Center on several high-impact Parkinson research studies totaling more than $5 million in funding to date. In one current project, neurologist Irene Hegeman Richard, M.D., associate professor of Neurology and Psychiatry, and several Rochester-area Parkinson patients are taking part in a major study funded by MJFF, the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative, which seeks to help physicians understand how the disease progresses. The Medical Center is one of 21 sites internationally taking part in the five-year study.

 

“We just want people to be aware of the disease, and we want to support efforts to stop it. It’s very debilitating and can progress from a mild tremor to complete physical incapacitation. New research is the only way that we’ll find a way to prevent the disease,” said Aspridy. “It’s exciting that some of this research is taking place right here in Rochester, and at Strong Memorial Hospital, where our mother was treated.”

Because Aspridy is a new member of Team Fox, all contributions made on behalf of her Team Fox fundraising efforts will be doubled by the Brin Wojcicki Challenge. Launched in 2011 by Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the $50 million challenge will match all new, increased and returning gifts on a dollar-for-dollar basis until December 31, 2012. For more information about the challenge, please visit www.michaeljfox.org/challenge.