The PD Avengers announced that on April 11, 2024, the global alliance will partner with Abbott and AbbVie to turn World Parkinson’s Day into World Parkinson’s Night. The global campaign is dedicated to raising awareness and fostering unity among the Parkinson’s community. Three core events that are part of this global initiative include: Spark the Night with 10-million lights, a 24-hour Parkinson’s Around the World live stream and our SLEEP survey of people with Parkinson’s and care partners.

These events will highlight the 24-hour impact Parkinson’s disease (PD) has on patients, their caregivers and loved one’s lives – with a special focus on how Parkinson’s disease affects sleep and the value of increasing “on” time.

Spark the Night will illuminate over 300 iconic buildings, bridges, towers, and landmarks in a vibrant blue hue, serving as a powerful symbol of hope, solidarity, and visibility for the Parkinson’s community. Scheduled for April 11, this dazzling display will include renowned structures such as The Empire State Building, an emblem of New York City’s skyline. Additionally, notable landmarks such as the New York Stock Exchange, AT&T Global Headquarters in Dallas, the Royal Australian Mint, and Canadian treasures like BC Place and Science World in Vancouver will join in this global initiative.

Internationally, participation extends to landmarks like the Adelaide Oval in Australia, the Mole Antonelliana in Turin, Italy, the historic Sophienkirche in Berlin, and the iconic Waldstadion; Deutsche Bank Park Futbol Stadium in Frankfurt. The Petřín Tower in Prague will also be illuminated in solidarity with the cause.

Adding to the spectacle, the captivating art installation, Field of Lights at Freedom Plaza, will lend its luminescence to support the Parkinson’s community. And the prestigious Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland will proudly participate, contributing its unique energy to this worldwide event. The complete list of cities participating are here.

“By joining global awareness with local action, advocates can help create a stronger, more effective response to Parkinson’s disease,” said Larry Gifford, President of PD Avengers. “This can make a real difference in the lives of those impacted by the condition, both in their own communities and beyond.”

The Parkinson’s Around the World 24-hour live stream will offer a virtual platform for interviews with patients, care partners and experts, music from Grammy-award winning artists, and inspiring documentaries to banish stigma and raise awareness of the burden associated with Parkinson’s disease. We will feature compelling Parkinson’s stories in multiple languages subtitled in English.

With participation from countries around the globe, this event will embody the PD Avengers mantra: “Think Global, Act Local.”

“At AbbVie, we walk alongside people living with Parkinson’s disease and their families, who display extraordinary resilience. We are proud to partner with the PD Avengers to raise awareness of the impact of Parkinson’s Disease throughout the day, across 24-hours,” said Maurizio Facheris, Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development Neuroscience, AbbVie. “We see it as our responsibility to help the Parkinson’s disease community by delivering solutions that can help make a difference in their lives as we seek to elevate the standard of care.”

The PD Avengers SLEEP survey: Surveying Late Evening Effects of Parkinson’s delves into the often-overlooked realities of how Parkinson’s profoundly impacts sleep and aims to shed light on this lesser-understood symptoms and challenges of the condition. The survey is available in seven languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese and Japanese and is open to people with Parkinson’s and their care partners.

This initiative is a collaboration between PD Avengers and AbbVie and is designed to spotlight the symptoms and their profound impact on individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, their care partners, and their communities.

PARKINSON’S DISEASE NEVER SLEEPS. NEITHER DO WE.

The challenges faced by individuals with Parkinson’s disease extend beyond the passing of time. Night hours, once a sanctuary for rest, become a battleground where the complexities of the condition surface with unique intensity. From involuntary tremors in the quiet hours to stiffness hindering movement – even within the confines of a bed – the nocturnal landscape for those with Parkinson’s disease is fraught with a myriad of symptoms.

“Abbott is committed to addressing the unique experiences and needs of individuals living with movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease by providing therapies that help people improve their quality of life,” said Pedro Malha, vice president, neuromodulation, Abbott. “As we continue to advance patient-centric treatment options, such as remote programming of deep brain stimulation devices, we remain focused on listening and adapting to the evolving needs of people with Parkinson’s disease to get them to a place where they can live their fullest possible life.”

Spark the Night, aims to shed light on the silent struggles unfolding in the darkness, offering insight on Parkinson’s nighttime symptoms. Tremors, rigidity, sleep disturbances, restless legs syndrome, pain, freezing, urinary issues, dystonia, excessive sweating, hypotension, drooling, nighttime cramps, temperature sensitivity, frequent awakenings, and more vividly illustrate the challenges faced during the night for those with Parkinson’s disease.

Our goal for Spark the Night is ambitious: 10-million lights for the 10-million people living with Parkinson’s disease. Each light represents support, awareness, and solidarity in the endeavor to bring hope to those affected by Parkinson’s disease worldwide. Follow the hashtag #SparktheNight and turn your social media feeds into a stream of advocacy for this disease that refuses to sleep.

For more information and to participate, please visit http://www.worldparkinsonsnight.com