Spark the Night: How the World Is Lighting Up Blue for Parkinson’s Awareness 

Larry Gifford joins us now via Zoom.

Larry is president of PD A Ventures, the global alliance to end Parkinson's Disease.

I am very grateful for your time and let's talk about a big weekend, April 11th, Larry, that's tomorrow.

It's World Parkinson's Day.

Talk to me first and foremost about what spark the night actually is and what does this moment mean to you?

Sure.

Spark the Night is an event for around the world, uh, buildings and bridges and landmarks of all types will light up blue, uh, to symbolize the hope and the unity of the Parkinson's community.

There's over 12 million people worldwide who have Parkinson's disease.

Somebody's diagnosed every 25 seconds.

And it's the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.

So it's really important that we get the word out.

Larry, why the color blue?

And if you're able to, are you willing to share a little bit about your own personal story and your journey with us here on the broadcast?

Sure, yeah.

Uh, so blue is, symbolizes unity and, uh, it symbolizes, uh, the, the unification of, of, of our community.

Uh, we're so siloed with all the different organizations and everybody wanting different things.

This is the one night where we come together and we talk, and we, we show, uh, The world, what, what we are, and we're, we're, we're just blue sparkles in the sky.

And, uh, my, my journey started in 2017 at the age of 45.

I had a bad walk.

I thought I twisted my ankle or something and just blew it off and then my hands started to tremor and I went to this doctor and they said, yeah, it looks like Parkinson's disease.

And I was like, what?

It's crazy.

And since then, I've had a deep brain stimulation where they put electrodes in my head to monitor my, uh, my tremors and, and, um, and whatnot, and it's really, it's been a lifesaver.

And that's the kind of research we need, uh, to continue.

Parkinson's is the fastest growing neurological disease.

How many countries and buildings are expected to participate in this weekend's event?

Well, they're coming in fast and furious right now.

We have over 200 cities involved in 20 countries.

Uh, we have, uh, I think there's we're we're We're about 675 buildings or bridges or sites around the world that are gonna light up.

Uh, and it's, uh, really, it's, it's an exciting time.

This is, this is my Super Bowl, so.

Talk to me a bit about what you most hope this campaign accomplishes for the community.

Well, if, if nothing else, I hope it gets people who aren't familiar with Parkinson's asking questions.

Why, why are things turning blue?

What's Parkinson's all about?

I thought that was an old man's disease.

Ask those questions because, uh, the only way we're going to, uh, bust through and really get the help we need and continue to get the great research done and, uh, is to, uh, to Be advocates for ourselves.

And uh, you know, we've we've seen it happen before and we'll we'll do it again, uh, where a disease community comes together and really makes their voices loud.

Larry, where can people go if they want to learn more or to get involved?

Spark the night.org or PD Avengers.com.

All right, we've got our blue lights here in anticipation of this amazing event.

Larry, my best to you for your, your so-called big Super Bowl weekend.

Really grateful for your time.

Please come back and see us here on the show.

All the best for the weekend, Larry.

Thank you.

Thanks.

And the NASDAQ or the stock exchange will light up this weekend as well, so, be, be on the lookout.

We'll be on the lookout here in Financial District.

Larry, thanks a lot.

Enjoy the weekend.