View Larger Image More than 200 participants in UAMS’ inaugural Parkinsonism Walk begin their 0.3-mile route through the Little Rock Zoo.
More than 200 participants in UAMS’ inaugural Parkinsonism Walk begin their 0.3-mile route through the Little Rock Zoo. Image by Bryan Clifton

UAMS’ Inaugural Parkinsonism Walk Holds Special Meaning for Many Participants

By Chris Carmody

| More than 200 people convened on a Saturday morning at the Little Rock Zoo to raise awareness and funding for programs at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) that support those who are living with Parkinson’s disease and related neurological conditions.

Participants in UAMS’ inaugural Parkinsonism Walk, held Nov. 1, followed a 0.3-mile route on a paved path through the zoo. The route was designed to be accessible and comfortable for everyone, with a water station and benches for those who wanted to pause and rest.

However, few people took advantage of those conveniences as they walked together in support of a cause that is deeply personal for many of them.

Jessica Holton (front), an occupational therapist at UAMS, leads participants in a stretching exercise before the Parkinsonism Walk.

Jessica Holton (front), an occupational therapist at UAMS, leads participants in a stretching exercise before the Parkinsonism Walk.Image by Bryan Clifton

Mary Ann Critz said she participated in the walk to honor a relative who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease eight years ago. The degenerative disease affects the central nervous system and leads to a deficiency of dopamine, a chemical in the brain that’s important for movement.

“This walk is a wonderful way to interact with other people who are facing the same challenges,” she said. “It makes you feel like you’re doing something really good.”

Rohit Dhall, M.D., chair of the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Neurology, said he was walking in memory of his father.

“Like many of you, this event holds a special meaning for me,” he told participants. “This walk is about celebrating the spirit of resilience, partnership and hope that we see in people who are living with Parkinson’s as well as in their families.”

Dhall spoke inside a pavilion where attendees enjoyed breakfast, socialized and browsed tables set up by event sponsors such as Abbvie, Boston Scientific, the “Speak Out!” therapy program from Arkansas State University and the Parkinson Voice Project, and Greg and Kay Reed. The tables provided information on some of the latest advances in research and treatments.

Businesses including the Coffee Corner, Blue Cake Co. and Sorridi Therapeutics provided in-kind support for the walk. In addition, many attendees received a signed copy of “Bend, Don’t Break,” a memoir by former Arkansas Razorback and Olympic runner Frank O’Mara, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease about 15 years ago.

Dhall thanked all the people who contributed to the Parkinsonism Walk as sponsors, donors, volunteers or participants. He noted that every dollar raised through the event will stay in Arkansas to fund programs that provide therapy, support services, education and research for those who face the challenges of Parkinson’s and related disorders.

John Lee, a longtime musician and broadcaster in Central Arkansas, served as the event’s keynote speaker.

John Lee, a longtime musician and broadcaster in Central Arkansas, served as the event’s keynote speaker.Image by Bryan Clifton

John Lee, a longtime musician and broadcaster in Central Arkansas, served as the event’s keynote speaker. He recalled the days when he hosted Alzheimer’s awareness walks as well as local segments during Jerry Lewis’ Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon.

“I always thought I’d be the announcer, but I never thought I’d be the patient,” he said.

Lee was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after being referred to Tuhin Virmani, M.D., Ph.D., vice chair of the Department of Neurology and chief of the Neurodegenerative Disorders Division. Lee said the care he received at UAMS improved his quality of life.

For the past decade, he has served as a research participant in the Virmani Gait Laboratory, which primarily studies a phenomenon in which Parkinson’s patients feel as if their feet are stuck to the ground. The phenomenon, known as “freezing of gait,” leads to falls and decreased quality of life, Virmani said.

In 2021, Lee and his wife, Sara Beth Lee, provided the laboratory with a $200,000 gift from funds that were earmarked by her parents, the late Bob and Sara Lou Cargill.

Many of the walkers took part in the event to support a cause that is deeply personal for them.

Many of the walkers took part in the event to support a cause that is deeply personal for them.Image by Bryan Clifton

As he addressed the Parkinsonism Walk attendees, John Lee encouraged them to continue raising awareness to ensure that the first-year event builds on its promising start.

“If we can grow this every year, then we can keep these funds right here in Arkansas to support all the good that UAMS is doing,” he said. “And trust me, it’s a lot of good.”

Virmani noted that many of the patients in the crowd are longtime supporters of Parkinson’s research, visiting his team every six months to undergo movement assessments and cognitive tests. He said that data is providing valuable insights.

“We’re getting to a point where we’re really hopeful about the impact we can make on people’s lives in the future,” he said.