In Canada, tulips are sold to raise funds for Parkinson's research; they have become a symbol of our hope for a cure. Every year we plant Parkinson's tulip bulbs in our home gardens and we ask our friends and neighbours to do the same. When the winter snows melt, the dry brown bulb we planted grows into a beautiful flower, and the fresh beauty of these tulips gives us renewed hope that someday soon a cure will be found.
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The story of the Parkinson's tulip began in 1981 in the Netherlands when a Dutch horticulturist, who had Parkinson's, gave the name 'Dr. James Parkinson' to the prize winning red and white tulip he had developed. This name was chosen to honour Dr James Parkinson, the English doctor who first described the condition in his 1817 'Essay on the Shaking Palsy'.
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A few years later in Ottawa, Canada's capital city, the Parkinson's Society of Ottawa-Carleton heard about the 'Dr James Parkinson' tulip and arranged to import some bulbs. The Parkinson's tulip bulbs were so popular in Ottawa that the Parkinson's Foundation of Canada began to distribute 'Dr. James Parkinson' tulip bulbs through its national network of chapters.
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In 1988, when Newfoundland and Labrador's first Parkinson's support group was formed, the 12 member group sold 6,000 Parkinson tulip bulbs. Since then, close to 15,000 bulbs have been sold every year, enabling Newfoundland and Labrador to make a significant annual contribution to Parkinson's research.
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Success has its price, however. At present a hundred thousand bulbs are needed in autumn as well as 40,000 fresh cut stems to sell in April. As sales increase it becomes more difficult to find a large enough quantity of the original red and white tulips, but when shortages occur most purchasers gladly accept another colour.
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To enjoy your own Parkinson's tulips, you can find out how to contact your nearest chapter of the Parkinson Foundation of Canada, by calling this toll free number: 800-565-3000. In Newfoundland and Labrador, call the St. John's Regional Chapter of the Foundation at 709-754-4428 or 800-567-7020 outside of St. John's. |
