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Great Maritime Tulip Quest
Published Friday August 8th, 2008

http://bugleobserver.canadaeast.com/...article/377675

Five iron tulips will be hidden in flower beds in Woodstock on Aug. 14 by a local chapter member of the Parkinson Society.

Tulips are beautiful flowers, which bring lots of joy. However, there are just too many hidden tulips out there for members of the Parkinson Society to find by themselves.

The Tulip Quest is essentially a mass scavenger hunt with 84 tulips scattered across the Maritime provinces. The society is offering a reward for their return because these are special tulips. Each one represents 100 Maritimers who live with Parkinson's Disease.

Society members will try to have one politician from each province symbolically plant the first tulip per province on Aug. 1. Tulip-finders will need to follow the directions attached to the tulip, and their names will automatically be entered in a draw to win a prize basket, courtesy of Veseys Seeds. Three prize baskets will be given out, one per province.

For more information about Tulip Quest, visit the Parkinson Society Facebook group by going to www.parkinsonmaritimes.ca and following the link posted on the main page.

The tulips have been planted in conjunction with Vogue Optical's SuperWalk for Parkinson's taking place in 16 communities across the Maritimes on Sept. 13 and 14. The SuperWalk is the society's largest fundraiser.

On Saturday, Sept. 13, the River Valley Parkinson Chapter will host the SuperWalk. The Woodstock walk will begin at the Y's Men's Club on Connell Park Road. Registration starts at 11 a.m. with the walk beginning at 12 p.m. For more information or to become involved call Esther at 506-455-4529 or the regional office in Halifax at 1 800 663-2468. Further information can also be found at www.superwalk.com.

There are 8,400 people in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick living with Parkinson's Disease. For 25 years, the Parkinson Society Maritime Region has been devoted to funding research and education about Parkinson's and also providing assistance to those who suffer from the disease. Their main objective is to make it possible for researchers to find a cure.

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disease. When cells in the brain which normally produce a chemical called dopamine die, symptoms of Parkinson's appear. Those who suffer from Parkinson's are often inundated with severe symptoms, such as tremors (shaking); slowness in movements; muscle stiffness; and problems with balance. Other symptoms may also occur for some people, such as fatigue, difficulties with speech and writing, sleep disorders, depression and cognitive changes.

Donations are welcome and can be made by calling the Parkinson Society at 1-800-663-2468.