WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS APRIL
Participate in our Sit 'n Stand Challenge
Attend our Stand Up to Parkinson's events
Learn More at our Lunch & Learn
Donate to make an ImPAAct today
Around the World, April is Parkinson Awareness Month.
Every day in Canada, 18 more people are diagnosed with Parkinson disease (PD), which means that in April alone more than 550 individuals in this country will learn they have the disease. PD is a chronic, progressive disease with no treatment, therapy, or drug to slow or halt its progression. However, with the proper medical care, support system, education and services, many people with PD can live a full and active life.
We encourage everyone to Get Involved, Learn More and Donate Now
Sit 'n Stand Challenge
This April, join us in completing 500,000 Sit ‘n Stands!
The exercise may be simple, but the impact is much greater. A Sit ‘n Stand movement exercise provides a quick full body exercise to improve mobility, balance and strength.
Last year, we surpassed our goal and completed 283,000 Sit ‘n stands.
We believe and challenge our community to DOUBLE this goal and complete 500,000!
Add to our counter in real time! Choose to input your totals daily, weekly or at the end of the month using the form below. You can keep track manually with our tracking log.
Log Your Sit 'n Stands
Help us reach 500,000 Sit ’n Stands!
Total Sit ’n Stands
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Submit Your Sit ’n Stands
A Sit ‘n Stand is the transitional movement going from a seated position to an upright standing position. They are a full body exercise that improves mobility, balance and strength for your whole body! They provide great benefits for those with Parkinson disease and Atypical Parkinsonism (formerly Parkinson’s Plus Syndromes).
Sit on the edge of a chair and bring your arms forward so they are parallel with the floor or across your chest. Feet should be flat on the ground hip-width apart.
Use your lower body to pull yourself up to the upright standing position.
Sit back down without lowering your arms and hinge at the hips. Inhale on your way up. Exhale slowly on the way down. Repeat as many times as you can!
Modification: Sit with a chair in front of the kitchen sink – knees can touch the cupboards if easier. Using both hands grip the edge of the sink with both hands and pull yourself up
Follow this YouTube video tutorial
Track your Sit ‘n Stands using this Sit ‘n Stand Tracker Log and update our form online. You can also email us your total at communications@parkinsonassociation.ca or bring your forms to our Spring Socials! Do these daily as many times as you can!
Stand Up to Parkinson's
On April 11th – World Parkinson Day in Edmonton and Calgary, we will Stand Up to Parkinson’s, with a commitment to complete 25,000 sit ‘n stands in 24-hours! Our 3rd annual Stand Up Events will invite those living with and loving someone with PD or PD+ to come out and participate in a variety of fun, physical, mental and speech activities.
Join us for free coffee and baked goods, appearances from local community leaders, fitness demonstrations and the sit ‘n stand challenge!
Lunch & Learn
Register for our free noon-hour webinars on the first and last Friday of April, and hear from our 2025 research recipients and their research taking place right here in Alberta!
Light Up for Parkinsons
Join us all across Alberta to Spark the Night Up for Parkinson disease.
All Albertan structures will be lighting the night blue on
Friday April 11, 2026.
Share with us your photos on social media and tag us at @ParkinsonAssociationOfAlberta
Resources
Parkinson disease is a progressive neurological disorder. It mainly affects parts of the brain controlling movement. Cells in the brain (in a place called the substantia nigra) produce an important chemical called dopamine. When a person moves, dopamine is involved in producing movements that are smooth and coordinated. Many people have symptoms between the ages of 50 and 60 years, but some have symptoms at a much younger age (young onset), others at a much older age. As symptoms start to interfere with how one is able to do everyday things, there are treatments that can help.
Attend our PD 101 on Thursday, April 30 to learn more! We have a 10AM session and 6:30PM session
A resource to people living with Parkinson disease and Atypical Parkinsonism.
Parkinson Canada – Parkinson Awareness Month activites across Canada
SPARK THE NIGHT – One world, One night. One light at a time. View all the structures being lit up for Parkinson Awareness Day on April 11
World Parkinson’s Day- Join the movement to end Parkinson disease
#standup2pd – Join the worldwide movement to Sit ‘n Stand for Parkinson’s