A final gift can make all the difference. 

When Julie Long thinks about her dad, Jim, and the legacy of compassion he left to the Parkinson Canada community, she says she feels “warm to the core.” 

“My dad had a strong family background in giving. So, when my Aunt Pat got Parkinson’s, he became passionate about it. He gave right to the end – organizing people to make donations, donating gingerbread men at his care home. He was that kind of guy – encouraging people to donate or get involved in whatever way worked best for them. He was always there for anybody who was looking for help,” says Jim’s son, Andy. 

Jim helped his sister as long as he could, and when her needs became greater than he could manage alone, he ensured she always had extra care. 

Jim and Pat’s story is a reflection of the many ways care partners support their loved ones and the complexity of that care. 

He meticulously recorded Pat’s Parkinson’s details in a handwritten chart: the times she took each medication, when she ate, and how her symptoms varied. He tracked how her symptoms changed based on her diet, exercise, and other factors. This chart always accompanied them to her neurologist appointments. 

Andy vividly remembers the extent of his dad’s care, “Pat wasn’t the only person he was a care partner for. He also cared for his wife, his children, distant relatives, and even his neighbors.” 

After Pat passed away, Jim continued his volunteer work for Parkinson Canada. He was a key leader of the annual “Hope in Bloom” campaign, selling tulips to raise funds for Parkinson’s research and support. 

Jim was honored with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his two decades of outstanding volunteerism and contributions. 

Jim’s legacy lives on. In his will, he left a gift to Parkinson Canada and his children couldn’t be prouder. 

As Andy reflects with a smile, “That was so like him. I wasn’t surprised that he would leave a donation to ensure something helpful was done in his sister’s name and his own. That sense of duty drove him. Giving is such a selfless act. You’re not thinking about what it’s going to do for you – it’s going to help other people. But in the end, it makes you feel good to know you’re helping people you don’t even know.” 

Jim’s gift helps to ensure that we can continue to provide programs and services to the Parkinson community. It funds critical research to improve lives and raises the voices of people living with Parkinson’s. Leaving a gift in your will can make all the difference.