SEATTLE – July 10, 2014 – The Washington Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) announces an innovative event designed to raise funds and awareness to help end Parkinson’s disease (PD). The inaugural Paddle for Parkinson’s will be held throughout the regional waterways of Seattle and Tacoma on Saturday, July 26. Paddlers and want-to-be paddlers are invited to “raise their paddles” and dip them into the water for a 4-mile race or a 1-mile fun paddle that aims to raise more than $10,000 to benefit the Washington Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA).

Paddle for Parkinson’s will take place simultaneously at Elliott Bay Marina in Seattle and Dock Street Marina in Tacoma. The event is open to all human-powered watercraft. Kayaks will be available for rent at both locations. Rather than an event entry fee, participating paddlers will be asked make a suggested $40 tax deductible donation. Everyone who donates/registers will receive a hot dog BBQ lunch, a Paddle for Parkinson’s visor and the opportunity to win exciting prizes and giveaways.

“Donate what you can,” says Dwight Jones, event creator and general manager of Seattle’s Elliott Bay Marina. “The main thing is to come out, have a great day on the water while raising awareness and funds to end Parkinson’s disease. My family, like many others, has been touched by PD, so I know first hand how devastating it can be. I want to find a cure, and I invite all local paddlers to help do just that.”

Not a paddler? Not a problem. Everyone can join the festivities! Everyone who makes a $25 tax deductible donation will receive a free event visor, a free lunch the day of the event where they can watch the races and cheer on all event participants.

“With more than 1 million people living with Parkinson’s Disease in this country and a new diagnosis every nine minutes, the time is now to do all we can to put an end to this disease,” says, Kristi Murphy, Executive Director of the APDA Washington Chapter. “There are more than 15,000 people in Washington State impacted by this neurodegenerative disease which has no cure. We are thrilled to be working with Dwight and to be the beneficiary of this unique event.”

APDA is the only Parkinson’s organization in the state that raises funds for both patient care and research. APDA supports the Washington State Parkinson Disease Registry which speeds Parkinson’s Disease research by connecting people in the Parkinson’s Disease community to those in the research community. Approved researchers are able to recruit for trials more quickly and efficiently. There is still much to learn about PD. Continued research is essential to a better understanding of disease progression, possible therapies, and an eventual cure.

The Paddle for Parkinson’s Courses:

In Seattle, paddlers in the 4-mile race will start from the breakwater at Elliott Bay Marina, paddle along Myrtle Edwards Park to a buoy near Pier 70 and back. It’s a fabulously scenic course and gives paddlers a unique view of Echo, the new sculpture at the Olympic Sculpture Park. The 1-mile course circumnavigates the breakwater at the marina.

In Tacoma, paddlers start at Dock Street Marina and head along the Foss Waterway. The 4-milers will paddle to a buoy off Ruston Way and back and the 1-milers will paddle to the mouth of the Foss Waterway and back.

Prizes will be given to the top three finishers in each category, to both SUP-ers and Yakkers, and men and women, as well as the top three donors, at each location. Courses are weather dependent and subject to change. For more information, to register or donate, please visit: http://www.paddle4pd.com/