Photo courtesy. Pictured left to right: Cindy Ranshaw, office manager of the Southend Emporium Art and History Center, Judy Poli and Kathy Brown, presenters of the Alpena Parkinson’s Support Gathering, and Donna Precord, former presenter of the Alpena Parkinson’s Support Gathering.
ALPENA – The Southend Emporium Art and History Center recently presented a check for $300 to the Alpena Parkinson’s Support Gathering as one of the nonprofit recipients of its garage sale pickup program.
The Southend Emporium Art and History Center offers a shopping extravaganza with an ever-changing selection of new, vintage and reinterpreted goods from a growing family of dealers and consignors. Their garage sale pickup program was created to help the community by taking the burden of cleaning up after a garage sale off of individuals’ hands and supporting local nonprofits. You simply contact Ray at the Emporium and he will arrange to come by, pack up and pick up your remaining items. They then sort, clean and sell the items and donate 70% or more of the sale proceeds to the charities they have chosen for the year. Located at 2490 US-23 South in Alpena, the Emporium is open Wednesday through Friday from 2pm to 7pm, Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from noon to 5pm. It is open seven days a week during the summer. You can reach them at 989-340-0968.
Emporium co-managers Ray and Cindy Ranshaw have a special connection to the Alpena Parkinson’s Support Gathering. Cindy’s father, Dale Precord, suffered from Parkinson’s and her mother, Donna Precord, was the support group’s director for several years.
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the dopamine-producing neurons in the area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Parkinson’s is most commonly associated with a resting tremor, but there are many more motor and non-motor symptoms that can be caused by the disease. The diagnostic criteria for Parkinson’s require bradykinesia (slowing of movements) and one or more of the following symptoms: 1) resting tremor, 2) stiffness or rigidity of the arms, legs, or trunk, and 3) difficulty balancing or falling, according to the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. Diagnosis is “clinical,” meaning a person’s medical history, symptoms, and a physical examination are used to make the diagnosis. There are currently no specific laboratory or imaging tests to diagnose Parkinson’s, although certain tests can assist in the diagnosis of Parkinson’s and rule out other conditions that may resemble the disease. If you or someone close to you suspect you may have Parkinson’s disease, talk to your GP and ask for a referral to a movement disorder specialist.
More than 10 million people worldwide suffer from Parkinson’s disease, including approximately 1.5 million in the United States. In Michigan, Parkinson’s prevalence is higher than the national average, with an estimated 35,000 people diagnosed with the disease. Although there is currently no cure for the disease, there are numerous resources and support available to those affected and their care partners. One of these invaluable resources is connecting with a support group.
The Alpena Parkinson’s Support Gathering is one of over 70 support groups in Michigan offered by the Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation. The group meets the third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 167 S. Ripley Blvd., Alpena. In addition, the group hosts social gatherings and a monthly coffee hour for caregivers. For more information, contact Kathy Brown at 989-884-1193 or Judy Poli at 989-370-6854.
Another valuable resource for Parkinson’s patients is the Michigan Parkinson Foundation, whose mission is to support people affected by Parkinson’s and related movement disorders, as well as their care partners, families and healthcare professionals, by providing support, education and care through community, educational, recreation and exercise programs. For more information or to donate to the MPF, visit parkinsonsmi.org or call 800-852-9781.
