"Find Your Passion and Go For It."
"Just because you have PD doesn’t mean it is the end of the world... I have never looked back."
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Volunteer Profiles
Why volunteer?
There is no single correct answer to this question. Volunteering is a very personal experience and only you can decide if it is for you or not. I can only share my own experiences.After working in the IT industry for more than 15 years, and the final few years living with Parkinson’s, 18 months ago I finally came to the hard conclusion that it was time to on go full time disability. The first year was difficult decompressing from the stress of work and trying to find a purpose for the future.
It was then I contacted the Parkinson Alberta Society to offer my services in re-writing the PAS website. The new staff at the PAS was very open to this proposal and we were able to find a volunteering opportunity that suited my skills and filled a growing requirement for PASnow and in the future. The reason I first entered the IT industry was the passion I had for developing software. That passion has now returned and I am much happier to be able to continue doing some development without the stress and pressure from a work-related environment.
I am able to work at home, work at my own pace with realist and flexible deadlines. I feel that I am now able to give back to the community and to PAS in my own special way.
If you are thinking of volunteering, then talk to PAS and find the right fit between your skills and the needs of the Society. If it's a skill that you have a passion for then you will probably be much happier volunteering in a flexible, enjoyable environment. Don’t be afraid to think "outside of the box" and talk to PAS, as you may offer something that the Parkinson Alberta Society may not have thought was available given the current labor market in Alberta.
Every Day You Can Do Something Better
Her motivation was straightforward, “how can I help support an association that may help my Dad?”. Her father was diagnosed with both Parkinson disease and Diabetes and she decided to help PAS because of the impact the disease will have on her father’s quality of life and also because her skill set was needed.
She found the Hope Conference to be a perfect fit with her own interests. She loves the thrill of witnessing plans come together and pulled off flawlessly. She is also not one to walk away from a challenge in that, “it’s more fun to do something great with a restricted budget”.
Due to her volunteering experience Dana is able to live her motto of “every day you can do something better”. She is hoping that by sharing her story she encourages other people to donate their expertise and time because, “it can help the bottom line of the [Parkinson Alberta] Society and help the organization do more.”