‘A Walk in the Park for Parkinson’s’ to take place across the country this April 5th

Parkinson’s Ireland has announced the date for this year’s flagship fundraising event, ‘A Walk in the Park for Parkinson’s’.

A series of walks will take place nationwide on Saturday, April 5th, and the organisation hopes that this year’s event will build on the success of last year’s inaugural walk to raise awareness of the condition and funds for the vital services Parkinson’s Ireland provides. Our Roscommon walk will take place on April 13th.

This year’s walk is sponsored by Ireland’s leading home care provider Dovida and takes place in 15 locations across the country to kick off Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is an incurable progressive neurological disorder which affects an estimated 18,000 people in Ireland. It was originally described based on a set of motor symptoms: tremors while at rest, slowness of movement, and increased muscle tone or rigidity. However, there are now believed to be more than 40 symptoms related to Parkinson’s, and not everyone with the disease experiences the same combination of symptoms.

Get involved

There is still plenty of time to get involved in this year’s event, and Parkinson’s Ireland is encouraging people to register online at www.parkinsons.ie and come along on the day to support this family-friendly fundraiser.

Once registered, attendees can find out the time and place of their local walk. They will also receive an official ‘A Walk in the Park for Parkinson’s’ t-shirt and take part in social events on the day.

Please click here to register.

Why participate?

“Everyone who participates will make an impact and contribute to raising awareness about Parkinson’s as a condition and promoting better care and support for those living with Parkinson’s and their families,” Shane O’Brien, CEO of Parkinson’s Ireland, said.

“Public donations and taking part and supporting events like ‘A Walk in the Park for Parkinson’s’ generate over 80% of our funds. By signing up and taking part, every person helps to support us in continuing to provide services such as our Parkinson’s Nurse Specialists, and our exercise classes provided by our branches across the country,” he added.

“We were delighted with how successful the event was last year. The event is taking place in five additional counties in 2025. We look forward to seeing the Parkinson’s community in a show of support and unity again on April 5th, and we invite everyone to register on www.parkinsons.ie to make a vital contribution. We are grateful to have the support and sponsorship again this year from Dovida,” he concluded.

Speaking about Dovida’s partnership with Parkinson’s Ireland, Dr. Kathleen McLoughlin, Disability Services Manager at Dovida, said, “We’re delighted to once again sponsor this important event to raise awareness of a condition that affects many of our clients and their families. At Dovida, our mission is to help the people we support to live the life they want in their own homes for as long as possible. We are proud to work with Parkinson’s Ireland, an organisation that shares our vision for a supportive, caring society and provides vital services to people living with Parkinson’s all over the country.”

Walk Locations:

‘A Walk in the Park for Parkinson’s’ is taking place in the following locations:

Please note the time that your local walk is taking place.

Dublin: Merrion Square Park, meeting at Merrion Square East, 11am.

Meath: Claremont Stadium, Navan, 11am.

Kildare: Moorefield GAA Club, 1:30pm.

Laois: Colt GAA Club, Raheen, 11am.

Offaly: Lloyd Town Park, Tullamore, 11am.

Tipperary: Templemore Park, 12pm.

Wexford: Orchard Peace Park, Enniscorthy, 11am.

Waterford: People’s Park, 11am.

Cork: Sacred Heart Parish Hall to Fitzgerald’s Park, 2pm.

Limerick: People’s Park, 11am.

Roscommon: Oran GAA Club, 1pm. Please note the Roscommon walk will take place on April 13th.

Mayo: Lough Lannagh (meeting at Castlebar Scouts Den), 1pm.

Sligo: JFK Parade, Doorly Park, 11am.

Donegal: Bernard McGlinchey Park, 11am.

About Parkinson’s Ireland

· There are approximately 18,000 people living with PD in Ireland. This is projected to double by 2050. PD is a progressive neurological condition which causes a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms. There is currently no cure for PD.

· Parkinson’s Ireland (PI) provides a range of services and supports, both locally and nationally to people living with PD, their families and care partners.

· Our work also includes raising awareness of the condition, providing information and advice, research, and advocating on a variety of issues which impact on people with PD, their families and care partners.

About Dovida

· Dovida is Ireland’s leading provider of person-centred home care services.

· Through its network of 25 local offices, the organisation’s wonderful staff and amazing caregivers support, empower, and uplift thousands of clients all across Ireland every day.

· Dovida’s Circle of Care philosophy places the client at the centre of a holistic support system, uniting families, skilled caregivers, and support teams with the wider healthcare community.