Watch: Inspirational Maltese Parkinson’s NGO Wins €55,000 After Social Impact Competition Triumph
A local NGO that provides dance therapy to people who suffer from Parkinson’s Disease has been awarded €55,000 after winning a new Maltese social impact show.*
Step Up For Parkinson’s entered the Changemakers show with a funding pitch for a daycare centre in Kirkop that will offer free dance therapy and creative movement classes as well as specialised physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy.
View this post on Instagram
The project was selected as one of five finalists, along with RMJ Horse Rescue, Fondazzjoni Sebħ, Embrace Diversity Organisation, and Żibel.
And last night, the five Changemakers judges – Alexander Fenech, Jesper Svensson, Kirsy Kullmann, Marta Starzyk, and Mark Weingard – announced Step Up For Parkinson’s as the winner of the first season of the social impact show.
The NGO was given €50,000, as well as an extra €5,000 after winning the Audience Award, which was awarded following a televote.
Meanwhile, Embrace Diversity, Fondazzjoni Sebħ and Żibel were awarded €25,000 each, while RMJ Horse Rescue received €5,000.
Step Up For Parkinson’s representative, Adrian Casha, who suffers from Parkinson’s himself, had told the judges that there wasn’t enough awareness on the condition.
“At the moment, 1,700 people are entitled to free Parkinson’s medication in Malta which indicates that the real figure is over 2,000, because some have probably been misdiagnosed, not diagnosed at all, or have completely lost heart and don’t even want to take their medication,” he said.
Step Up For Parkinson’s will organise a fundraising marathon on NET, ONE and F Living for its new project on 5th November.
Cover photos: Changemakers
*A previous version of the article stated that Step For Parkinson’s won the entire €100,000; they actually won €55,000.
Well done Step Up for Parkinson’!
READ NEXT: Maltese Dancer Signed To One Of The Biggest Talent Agencies In LA
