PAC Spotlights & Highlights
Meet PAC’s Board of Directors
The Parkinson Association of the Carolinas (PAC) is proud to be guided by a dedicated group of leaders who are passionate about strengthening our mission and serving the Parkinson’s community across the Carolinas. Our Board of Directors brings together a wealth of experience, compassion, and commitment to making a difference. We are excited to introduce and celebrate them.
Page McEachern
Melissa Miller
Oktawian “Joe” Rybinski
Paula Pavlou
Lisa Shasky
Jason Strow
Peggy Vasquez
Together, this team will help guide PAC into the future with fresh ideas, strong leadership, and a deep commitment to our community. Their leadership ensures that PAC continues to grow, adapt, and stand as a source of hope and strength for all those impacted by Parkinson’s. We are grateful for their service and look forward to all the ways their leadership will move PAC forward.
Our new website is live!
We’re thrilled to announce that the Parkinson Association of the Carolinas has a brand-new look online! Our refreshed website is designed to make it easier for you to find resources, learn about programs, and stay connected with our community.
As with any big change, you may notice a few small hiccups while we finish fine-tuning. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we put the final touches in place.
If you run into any issues or need assistance with program registration or resources, please don’t hesitate to call us at 980-245-2786 or email pac@parkinsonassociation.org.
Update your PAC Email Communication
We’re excited to introduce a new way to stay connected with the Parkinson Association of the Carolinas! Our updated email system makes it easier for you to choose the types of messages you’d like to receive.
From monthly newsletters and program updates to volunteer opportunities and donor news, you’re in control of how you hear from us.
Take a moment to update your contact details and select your preferences so you never miss the information that matters most to you. If you have any issues along the way, please reach out to us at pac@parkinsonassociation.org.
Tools for Your Journey: Education & Support Programs
Virtual Support Group
Share Your Experiences with Sleep
📅 Wednesday, September 3, 2025
🕑 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Online via Zoom
Join us for PAC’s September Virtual Support Group, a free and interactive session for the Parkinson’s community. This month’s open forum will focus on sleep challenges, giving participants a chance to share experiences, ask questions, and connect with others. Insights gathered will help shape a future event featuring a sleep specialist.
Wellness Wednesday
Communication, Swallowing, LSVT
📅 Wednesday, September 17, 2025
🕑 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Online via Zoom
Join us for Wellness Wednesday, a free and interactive session focused on caring for your whole self. Kate Richard, SLP, will present on Communication & Swallowing with an emphasis on LSVT, sharing practical strategies to strengthen voice, improve swallowing, and enhance daily communication.
Did you miss one of PAC’s virtual programs? You can catch up anytime by visiting the Parkinson Association of the Carolinas YouTube Channel, where selected recordings are available to watch. Be sure to subscribe so you’ll be notified when new content is posted!
Need help registering for a program? Call us at 980-245-2786 or toll-free at 1-866-903-PARK (7275). Our team will be happy to assist you.
Find a Support Group
Living with Parkinson’s can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone. PAC offers support groups across the Carolinas for individuals with Parkinson’s and their care partners.
These groups provide a safe and welcoming space to share experiences, learn from others, and build connections within the community.
To learn more about a group near you, call us at 980-245-2786 or email gschultz@parkinsonassociation.org.
Free Resource Hotline
Need answers or support? PAC’s Free Resource Line is here to help. Staffed by a PAC team member Monday through Friday, 9:00 A.M.– 4:00 P.M., this service provides reliable information, local resources, referrals, and details about our cost-free programs.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed, a caregiver, or seeking guidance, we’re here to listen support you. Give us a call at 1-866-903-PARK (7275) or email pac@parkinsonassociation.org to connect with the support you need.
Get Moving with PAC: Movement Therapy Programs
Exercise and movement are powerful tools for living well with Parkinson’s. Regular participation can improve balance, flexibility, strength, and overall quality of life.
PAC is proud to sponsor a variety of exercise and movement therapy classes each month, designed to meet you where you are and keep you moving forward. To join, please contact the individual instructors listed below for class details and registration.
There are many other exercise classes for Parkinson’s offered around the Carolinas, visit our website, call 980-245-2786, or email gschultz@parkinsonassociation.org for more information.
Disclaimer: We ask that you practice caution when participating in all programs, particularly exercise programs. Talk to your doctor about what program would be best for you, stay hydrated, exercise in a safe environment, move at your own pace, and try to exercise with a partner or an accredited instructor.
STEPtember is Here: Walk, Move, and Prevent Falls
This September, we’re partnering with the North Carolina Falls Prevention Coalition for STEPtember, a month-long walking/step challenge to celebrate Falls Prevention Awareness Month 2025! Wherever you are, you can join in, get moving, and stay strong.
Why walking?
Walking boosts balance, mobility, and confidence, and yes, it really helps prevent falls! Even short walks (5–10 minutes) add up to big benefits. Staying active is one of the best ways to build confidence, prevent falls, and live well with Parkinson’s. Let’s step into September together, no matter where you are!
Ready to get started?
Find a local walking group or check out Walk with a Doc.
Set your step goal with our STEPtember Planner & Resources.
Track your steps (phone, watch, or pedometer, whatever works!).
Submit your steps so we can celebrate your success!
PAC Community Champions
Join Team PAC: Miles for Movement at the Charlotte Marathon
PAC is a charity partner for the 2025 Novant Health Charlotte Marathon on November 15, 2025. Runners can run any distance to help raise funds and awareness for PAC. For more details on donating or joining our team, contact Charlie Godfrey at 980-245-2786 or cgodfrey@parkinsonassociation.org.
This past month, PAC had the joy of being out in the community and celebrating the generosity of our partners and supporters.
We were honored to receive a $3,500 donation from Crane Charitable Funds in support of our mission. Capturing the moment with their team and the oversized check was a powerful reminder of the impact that dedicated partners can make. Their generosity helps PAC continue to provide vital resources, education, and hope to individuals and families living with Parkinson’s.
We also joined our friends of Synergy HomeCare of Charlotte & Lake Norman for their Putt Putt for Parkinson’s fundraiser. It was an afternoon filled with laughter, community spirit, and compassion. Thanks to the enthusiasm of participants and the generosity of several amazing sponsors, every putt made a difference in raising funds to fuel our mission. We are truly grateful for the commitment of all our sponsors, whose support makes events like this possible.
Beyond the Carolinas: Programs and Events
In addition to PAC’s local programs, we’re excited to share these upcoming free virtual offerings from trusted Parkinson’s or senior serving organizations. Whether you’re curious about the latest research, looking for creative ways to stay active, or seeking tools for mindfulness and renewal, these sessions are designed to inform, inspire, and support both people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners.
Free Program: The Joy of Singing – Tremolos Singers
📅 Tuesday, September 16, 2025
🕚 2:00 PM ET | Online
Join Judi Spencer and The Tremolo Singers for 50 minutes of vocal exercises and songs that support speech, clarity, balance, and movement.
Hosted by the American Parkinson Disease Association
Free Webinar: First Responders: Falls and Falls Prevention
📅 Thursday, September 25, 2025
🕚 10:00 AM ET | Online
The webinar includes experts sharing their perspective on responding to falls, from the initial call to the ER, and practical prevention tips to help older adults.
Hosted by Centralina Area Agency on Aging
Free Webinar: Talking About Disease-Modifying Therapies for Parkinson’s
📅 Thursday, September 18, 2025 🕛 12:00 PM ET | Online
In this webinar, an expert panel will share the latest research, discuss ways scientists are supporting brain health, and answer your questions live.
Hosted by The Michael J. Fox Foundation
Parkinson's Community News
Staying informed is an important part of living well with Parkinson’s. Check out the latest research updates, innovative therapies, and opportunities to get involved in studies shaping the future of Parkinson’s care.
New Device Shows Promise in Reducing Tremor
A pilot study found that noninvasively stimulating a leg nerve with Stimvia’s URIS device may safely ease motor symptoms and improve quality of life for people with Parkinson’s. Among participants with tremor, more than two-thirds experienced relief within six weeks, and by the end of the study, over 85% saw their tremors reduced by half. The device, which stimulates the peroneal nerve through skin electrodes, can be used independently at home and was well-tolerated with no serious side effects.
Researchers are now preparing for a larger international trial to confirm these promising results. READ MORE
A new oral therapy for Parkinson’s, developed using artificial intelligence (AI), is moving closer to human testing.
Insilico Medicine plans to file an application with the FDA by the end of 2025 to begin clinical trials of ISM8969, which in preclinical studies restored motor skills in a mouse model of Parkinson’s.
Designed to block harmful brain inflammation linked to disease progression, ISM8969 could represent a promising step toward treatments that go beyond symptom relief. READ MORE
Smell loss can be an early sign of brain disease, including Parkinson’s. The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) invites you to take a free smell test to help researchers better understand disease risk and progression. Participation takes less than five minutes and could play a vital role in shaping the future of Parkinson’s care. READ MORE
Connect with PAC Online!
Where can I view Instagram Stories?
To view PAC’s stories, just tap on our profile photo – it’s a red and green tulip! If you like our story, you can send us a “heart” in the bottom right-hand corner!
Where can I view Facebook Stories?
Similar to Instagram Stories, content shared to stories will appear at the top of the Facebook News Feed. To view a story, users simply tap the Parkinson Association Logo circle at the top of the app (if it has a blue circle around it). While viewing a story, users can also reply with a direct message to let us know if you liked our story!
