Paying It Forward: Why We Are Supporting Travel Grants For WPC 2026
In July 2023, several thousand people attended the 6th World Parkinson Congress (WPC) in Barcelona, Spain. They included doctors, people with Parkinson’s with their families and friends, researchers, therapists, and many more. What you may not know is that many of those attendees were able to be there because of the WPC Travel Grant program. There are several different grants available, some just for travel expenses or registration fees, and others for specific programs.
Where do the funds for the Travel Grants come from? It comes from a wide range of places, including but not limited to: WPC Ambassadors and committee members, Past delegates who want others to have the WPC experience, past speakers of the WPC who donated their travel stipend back to the WPC to pass it on, and many others around the world who generously donate funds to help someone else experience the World Parkinson Congress. We four are raising funds for specific groups of people to attend the WPC 2026.
If you are interested in contributing to any of the Travel Grant funds or applying for a grant, you can see what is available on the WPC website at https://wpc2026. org/page/TravelGrants.
We would like to share what the four of us are doing to raise money for travel grants, and if we are successful, the money raised will help cover registration and possible travel expenses for anywhere from 40 to 50 people to attend the WPC 2026.
Marlene Kendrick (r) and researcher
SUPPORTING RESEARCHERS TO ATTEND WPC 2026
Marlene Kendrick
I have Parkinsons and I was diagnosed in 2018. I knew I needed to be a part of the WPC after listening to others who had attended Kyoto. So, off I went to Barcelona as a Volunteer. I met and spoke with wonderful people and listened to several scientific lectures. Talking with a speaker at their roundtable later, I asked a question about the future of what he was working on. He told me of the many levels of research needed for studying each innovation. Listening to him, I realized how important research projects are and the need to have a wide variety of subjects involved.
I became a research subject here in Portland. I have now taken part in 5-6 research projects in the last three years. As a WPC 2026 Ambassador,
I want to be able to send researchers involved in Parkinson’s research to the WPC in Phoenix, May 24-27, 2026. I will send one person, or as many as the funds will allow. I want them to be able to meet others and learn what they can, and then to take that new knowledge back to their lab or facility and pass on the information.
Who knows, the person(s) I fund may be a future speaker at a WPC or they may be the new future in Parkinson's research moving us closer to the cure.
Michelle Lane
WHY I AM FUNDRAISING FOR THE WPC 2026
Michelle Lane
I’m fundraising for the World Parkinson Congress (WPC) because I’ve seen firsthand how life-changing this event can be. I attended my first WPC in 2006 in Washington, DC. I walked into a room filled with people from all over the world—people living with Parkinson’s, care partners, doctors, researchers, and advocates—all united by a shared determination to improve life with Parkinson’s and work toward a cure. It was overwhelming in the best way. I felt seen, supported, and empowered. I didn’t feel like I was walking this journey alone.
Since that day, it has become my mission to help others experience what I did in 2006. The WPC isn’t just a conference; it’s a global movement. It’s a place to learn, to connect, to be inspired, and, most importantly, to find hope. The sessions are world-class, but the real magic happens in the hallways, over shared meals, in support circles, where we meet face-to-face with those we’ve only known online, and where new lifelong friendships are born.
I want as many people as possible, especially those living with Parkinson’s and their care partners, to attend the WPC. It’s where we come together to find answers, raise our voices, and realize that we are not alone. Every dollar raised helps someone attend who might not otherwise be able to.
With Louisiana Lagniappe for Parkinson’s, we aim to offer that “little something extra” to help members of our Parkinson’s community in the state of Louisiana, especially those who may not otherwise be able to attend the WPC 2026.
MONTERAY, CALIFORNIA TRAVEL GRANTS
Naomi Estolas
Why do I tell others about the WPC and encourage them to go? My first WPC was 2016 in Portland Oregon. I was only diagnosed in the previous year before the event. But I knew the best thing for me was to learn and
understand more about this degenerative disease. It was also important for me to meet people and create relationships in my newly found community that I didn’t sign up for but now feel blessed to be a part of.
I was working a full-time job with responsibilities implementing large technical systems throughout the US, and I had two young children in school. I flew to the event with a couple of other PWPs. There was so much excitement, sessions, seminars, things to do, and try out. The energy and positivity from the WPC fueled me and inspired me. I learned so much and was able to talk to some of the best doctors and scientists from around the world. I left the event motivated to do something. The first thing I did when I returned was to go to my local support group meeting and inform them about what I learned and how amazing it was. It gave me a feeling of wanting to share with everyone in the Parkinson’s community and how vital it is to attend/participate in the WPC.
Since Portland, I went to the WPC 2019 in Kyoto, Japan where I was the main organizer of the central art exhibit, “Soaring with Hope”, a beautiful project with over 16,000 hand-folded origami cranes collected from 39 countries. Half of the cranes had messages of hope written on their wings. I will be at the WPC 2026 in May in Phoenix, Arizona, and am honored to be one of the WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassadors. My dream is to have everyone in my area who is part of the Parkinson’s community participate in the next WPC. There are so many in our community who have never heard about the WPC, and they are missing out. My passion is to help raise funds so all people with, or impacted by, Parkinson’s get to go to the WPC. The next WPC will be right here in our backyard, so there is no reason not to attend.
I look forward to seeing you in Phoenix!
At the WPC 2023 in Barcelona with some of the women in our Twitchy Woman group, several are grant recipients
Twitchy Woman – Sharon Krischer
I have attended three previous WPCs and, as Michelle stated, they were life-changing for me. I found my voice with my blog and later, with twice monthly webinars in response to the Pandemic, created a space for women with Parkinson’s that has gone global. For the WPC 2023 in Barcelona, thanks to the generosity of one of my Twitchy Woman followers, we created a grant program for women attending the Congress for the first time. Others contributed to the fund, and we were able to sponsor nine women to attend by covering their registration fees. Some were also eligible for other grants to cover hotel and/or airfare.
I am happy to tell you that all nine of the women we sponsored have been very busy creating programs in their home communities. One woman has started a Ping Pong for Parkinson’s program. Another was the co-chair of a major Parkinson’s online program from her local university which attracted thousands of people. Another is surveying the African American community about their experiences with PD. Our program was truly a “pay-it-forward” program that is getting results.
This year, I am proud to be a WPC 2026 Parkinson Ambassador for the WPC 2026 in Phoenix and will be raising funds again to sponsor women going to the WPC for the first time. Since the registration fees are much lower for Phoenix, we hope to be able to bring many more women with us who can become more active in their local communities. Your contributions to our fund will help us reach our goals. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
We need your help to enable others to attend
Please consider helping others to attend the WPC if you are able. No one should have to sit this one out because of financial difficulties. It is truly a life changing experience for all who attend. We all hope to see you in Phoenix!
Naomi Estolas, Marlene Kendrick, Sharon Krischer, and Michelle Lane are all active Parkinson advocates in the USA. They have all attended past WPCs and will all be attending WPC 2026 in Phoenix. If you are able to support one or more of their campaigns, please do so below:
Naomi’s campaign: Monterey, CA Travel Grants
Michelle’s campaign: Louisiana Lagniappe for Parkinson’s
Marlene’s campaign: Researcher grants program
Sharon’s campaign: Twitchy Woman
Ideas and opinions expressed in this post reflect that of the author(s) solely. They do not reflect the opinions or positions of the World Parkinson Coalition®