2016 Parkinson’s Conference Gets Local Funding Boost

(Baton Rouge, LA) On Friday, February 5, 2016 the staff at Baker Glass used The NeuroMedical Center as a venue to present a $2,100 check to help fund the Parkinson’s Conference held annually at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge.  The donation is the result of a months-long campaign, “Baker Glass Gives Back,” launched in April of 2015 by family of the company’s original owner and Parkinson’s patient, William Mosley. For every windshield Baker Glass replaced from April-August of 2015, the company donated $10 to a Parkinson’s fund.

The Mosley family opted to keep their contribution local by sponsoring the upcoming Parkinson’s Conference organized by Mr. Mosley’s neurologist at The NeuroMedical Center, Dr. Gerald Calegan. “I was blown away when I heard about the Mosleys’ extremely generous offer” said Dr. Calegan who has headlined the Parkinson’s Conference every year since 2012. “At our Parkinson’s Conference we always have a packed house of about 400 people. We bring in speakers from all over the country, and the goal is to educate patients, caregivers and families about Parkinson’s disease, to help with the struggle, to inform people about the latest and greatest research, and to give people hope about what really is on the horizon.”

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. As many as 1 million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease, and about 60,000 more are diagnosed each year.  It’s estimated that Louisiana has one of the highest incidence rates in the nation, with Parkinson’s affecting more than 65,000 individuals. The cause is unknown, and although there is presently no cure, there are treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage its symptoms. Dr. Gerald J. Calegan, along with fellow NeuroMedical Center movement disorder specialists, Dr. B. Glenn Kidder and Dr. Rebecca E. Whiddon, are actively leading Parkinson’s disease research at the Baton Rouge campus, overseeing several ongoing clinical trials.

William Mosley founded Baker Glass in 1979 and proudly grew his business to service most of South Louisiana. In 2008, Mr. Mosley was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Mr. Mosley had no choice but to turn over the family business to his son, Hunter. Eager to keep building on his father’s legacy, the then 21-year-old Hunter founded the “Baker Glass Gives Back” program. Since launching the charitable program, Baker Glass has given thousands of dollars to both the Baker and Zachary school systems. 2016 marked the first time the Mosleys make a donation to support the local Parkinson’s community, and the family plans to keep the tradition going!

Registration has not yet started for the annual Parkinson’s Conference set for later this summer.  The free day-long educational event is fully funded by donations from local businesses, organizations, and individuals.

Categorised in: Clinic News, NMC News