Big news! Here are the three non-profit beneficiaries of funds raised by the Exquisite Warriors project. All gross proceeds from the sale of the deluxe, first-edition artist book were donated to organizations supporting women with Parkinson’s Disease. I personally paid for all printing and production costs plus dealer commissions so that 100% of all sales can be donated. So, here’s the math: 25 books sold for $500 each = $12,500 raised! Each of the three organizations supporting women with Parkinson’s Disease received $4,000 each in 2022. Plus! All profits from the second edition of the book will also be donated to the same three terrific organizations:

Twitchy Woman is a fantastic support for women with Parkinson’s. Being a disease usually thought of as for old men, this group was very much needed. Sharon Krischer (one of the warriors in the book) started a blog and in-person support group in her LA neighborhood a few years ago and when the pandemic started she took it virtual and has attracted women from around the world for two to three Zoom talks per month on topics ranging from the effects of hormones on PD medications to the importance of exercise to makeup adaptations for tremoring hands. Sharon and her team have also created a mentoring program matching newly diagnosed women with mentors to guide them on this scary journey. The dynamic group used their $4,000 donation from our book sales to give 14 scholarships for women to attend the World Parkinson’s Congress in Barcelona in 2023. I gave a talk about the Exquisite Warriors book that can be viewed here on the Twitchy Woman YouTube channel.

PWR! Parkinson Wellness Recovery – Founded in 2010 in Tucson, Arizona by Dr. Becky Farley, who developed PWR!Moves, which are Parkinson’s-specific exercises that help maintain and restore skills that deteriorate and interfere with everyday movements. PWR! provides access to cutting-edge Parkinson’s disease-specific exercise programs, both direct to patients in gyms and online, and also by certifying therapists and trainers worldwide. Exquisite Warriors first edition funds provided gym memberships to disadvantaged women plus gave grants to therapists in Africa. Learn more about PWR!Gym, PWR!Moves and more at: pwr4life.org

Parkinson’s Africa was founded by Omotola Thomas, also a warrior in the book, to help PD patients in her native Nigeria. Parkinson’s Africa is “a Parkinson’s disease patient advocacy organisation dedicated to supporting and empowering Africans impacted by Parkinson’s disease.” Omotola is a remarkable voice and a fierce advocate from her current home in the UK. They used the $4,000 donation to sent staff members to 2023 World Parkinson’s Congress in Barcelona.

There are heartbreaking stories that across Africa, Parkinson’s is often thought to be witchcraft, or a curse, with stigma and shame so bad that people are abandoned by their families. On top of that, our “gold standard” cheap and easy drug that has been around for over 50 years here in the US, is very difficult to obtain in Africa.

Omatola tells us, “We at Parkinson’s Africa truly appreciate the donation made by the Exquisite Warriors to our organisation. Through this generous donation to Parkinson’s Africa, two women impacted by Parkinson’s disease in Africa were sponsored to attend the WPC event in Barcelona, Spain. Attending the event was impactful for these women as it helped them to understand that they are not alone in the fight against Parkinson’s.”

It will be exciting to see what Omatola and her team accomplish. Learn more about Parkinson’s Africa here.

Thank you to everyone who has purchased books supporting this project and these amazing organizations supporting women with Parkinson’s Disease. We are all grateful!