One man's battle with Parkinson's Disease has moved thousands into action
- raising money and raising consciousness.
"10 years ago I was afflicted with Parkinson's Disease. Since then my friends, Bruce Springsteen, Joe D'Urso, Joe Grushecky and others have helped raise over 1 million dollars for the Light of Day Foundation."
- Bob Benjamin, Founder and CEO Light of Day Foundation
Light of Day - the concerts and the organization - grew from a birthday party and fundraiser held in 1998 at the Downtown Cafe in Red Bank to celebrate the 40th birthday of artist manager and music industry veteran Bob Benjamin. Benjamin was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1996. The shows, named after a Springsteen song that is the title of a movie starring Fox and Joan Jett, have raised funds for the ongoing fights against Parkinson's Disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and related diseases. In 2003, actor Michael J. Fox, who also suffers from Parkinson's Disease, joined Grushecky, Springsteen and Benjamin on stage for a performance of the show's (movie's) theme song. |
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In addition to the signature shows in Asbury Park, New Jersey, the concert series has grown to include concerts in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Wales, Ireland, Italy, and, here in Canada.
A CD featuring covers of Springsteen songs by various artists was released in 2003 on Benjamin's own Schoolhouse Records label. The CD and a European version, also released in 2003, have sold over 30,000 units worldwide and raised an additional $150,000 for Parkinson's research and for the Kristen Ann Carr Fund. All told, the Light of Day ventures have raised over one million dollars since 1998.
For more information on the Light of Day Foundation visit
www.lightofday.org
About Parkinson's Disease
PD is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that affects between one-and-a-half million and two million Americans. The incidence of PD is often underestimated because it is not contagious and does not have to be reported by physicians. PD may appear at any age, but it is uncommon in people younger than 40, and the risk of developing it increases with age. It occurs in all parts of the world, and men are affected slightly more often than women.
A cure is just around the corner.
For more information on Parkinson's Disease, visit:
www.parkinsondisease.ca
www.pdf.org
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