Fund-Raising Walk in the Fight Against Parkinson's Set for September in Litchfield

By MICHELLE MERLIN Register Citizen mmerlin@registercitizen.com

LITCHFIELD For two hours every month, Goshen resident Rosellen Waiveris doesnt feel the need to hide the tremor in her hands.

Ms. Waiveris has Parkinson's, a disease in which the brain decreases dopamine levels, producing a tremor in the extremities. The degenerative disease progresses over time and can result in loss of mobility, speech and memory.

But Ms. Waiveris, whose only symptom of the disease is a tremor in her hand, has found camaraderie in the Torrington Area Parkinsons Support Group (TAPSG).

The group, which meets on the last Saturday of each month at the Sullivan Senior Center, offers Parkinsons patients and their caretakers the chance of having a comfortable network in which they can discuss their lives, the latest treatments and the difficulty of handling the disease.

So many of the people with Parkinsons felt alone, said one of the groups founders, Carol Pathe. They didnt feel they had anyone who would really understand.

TAPSG is hosting a fund-raising walk on Sunday, Sept. 16, at White Memorial in Litchfield. Registration begins at noon, and the 0.6 to 1.7 mile walk starts at 1 p.m. People interested in registering for the walk or donating can visit walkforpd.org.

The proceeds will go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation to fund research for a cure.

This is the first walk TAPSG is hosting. The group was founded a year and a half ago by Ms. Pathe and Marion Muschell, both Parkinson's patients who were going to Cheshire and farther to attend these sorts of groups.

Having a nearby support group is a relief to Parkinson's patients, who travel frequently from doctor to doctor.

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Fund-Raising Walk in the Fight Against Parkinson's Set for September in Litchfield