On Wednesday 10th May, LIH's Clinical and Epidemiological Investigation Centre (CIEC) had the great pleasure to welcome Mr Gérard Zoller (G.Z.) and Mr Constant Infalt (C.I.), respectively Chairman of Interclub of the 14 Rotary Clubs in Luxembourg and Rotary Country Chair Grand-Duché de Luxembourg as control participants to our Parkinson study NCER-PD. They kindly accepted to share with us their experience and their involvement in the fight against Parkinson disease.
How did you hear about the Parkinson study?
C.I.: Rotary is particularly sensitive and active in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases. For five years now, we give the opportunity to research institutes to introduce their projects related to neurodegenerative diseases. NCER-PD programme has been selected by our scientific committee (composed by doctors from Rotary) among twelve other projects this year.
What was your main source of motivation to participate?
G.Z.: It can happen to anyone: our family, our friends or event ourselves! It’s just natural for me to get involved.
C.I.: Parkinson is unfortunately one of these emerging diseases in our society and even within our relatives. We found it’s about time to care about it properly!
G.Z.: Rotary‘s motto is “service above self”: I feel I really apply it by participating to the study today.
C.I.: Since the day the study was presented to us, I am doing my best to talk our members into joining the study. then I said to myself “well, maybe you should lead by example and participate yourself to start with!” (laugh)
Did you have any apprehension before the appointment?
G.Z.: I was a bit anxious when I arrived. I guess I feared results, bad results… I am convinced many people do not participate because they may fear any bad discovery about their health. However, I think it’s always better to know at the earliest stage possible to adapt treatment and slow down the disease!
C.I.: I think people are reluctant to “neuropsychological tests”. This is a scary and quite fuzzy term. People are used to see doctors, to make blood tests etc.… but when it comes to terms related to brain, people get confused and scared. What people imagine to be frightening brain tests are actually little games that even kids could do… nothing to be scared of, really! (The mentioned neuropsychological tests are actually memory, dexterity, smell games etc.…)
How did the appointment go?
C.I.: Very well ! The team which took care of me was very attentive to me, kind and professional.
G.Z: I got a very warm welcome, the atmosphere was very pleasant within the team!
What is the involvement of the Rotary in the study?
C.I.: in Luxembourg, Rotary supports research against Parkinson’s through the financing of equipment but also by spreading the word within our network. We do our best to raise awareness among the members who correspond to the profile needed for the study and encourage them to participate as control subject. As I participated myself, I am now in a better position to act as an ambassador of the study and reassure people who might still hesitate. More than twenty members registered already! (Participated already or will participate).
G.Z.: Not only we hand over cheques (laugh), we literally give body and soul to fight the disease!
What would you tell people who still hesitate in participating?
G.Z.: This is their chance to help other and get involved. This is our duty to fight all together against those sicknesses and help future generations!
C.I.: If we did it, they can do it too!
Do you want to participate as well to the NCER-PD study? Contact us!
Control participants: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / (+352) 26 97 09 33
Patients: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / (+352) 44 11 48 48