Founded in 2011, Rice Pancakes for Parkinson’s is the only P4P Chapter in Houston.
What is P4P?
Pancakes for Parkinson’s (P4P) is a national fundraiser to benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The event was founded at the University of Virginia in 2004 and has since become a nationwide event. Starting 2020-2021, Rice P4P will donate a portion of the funds raised to the Houston Area Parkinson Society as well. P4P includes a pancake breakfast for students who are encouraged to make a donation in exchange for breakfast.
What is Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the neurons in your brain that produce dopamine, resulting in little to no dopamine levels in affected individuals. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in reward-motivated pathways as well as motor control. As a result, patients with Parkinson’s may exhibit symptoms such as a tremor, slow movements, limb rigidity, and balance problems (parkinsons.org).
As a neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson’s patients develop symptoms slowly over years and exhibit worse and worse symptoms as time goes on. Though the cause of the disease is largely unknown, researchers believe that Parkinson’s may be caused by both genetic and environmental factors.
How did Rice University get Involved?
The Michael J. Fox Foundation approached Rice about hosting the event after learning that Rice student Austin Lipinski had produced a short documentary (see below) about Robert Flatt, a Rice professor who has Parkinson’s disease. The documentary won the Grand Prize in the Rice University 2011 Student Film Contest.
Now, we partner up with the Houston Area Parkinson’s Society as well as other student organizations to host this successful fundraiser. All proceeds go directly to funding Parkinson’s research.
Faculty Inspiration
www.robertflatt.com
“Hello – my name is Robert. I started my crazy passion to become a photographer in 2000 when I discovered I had Parkinson’s disease. I began taking photography courses at Rice University, and now I am consumed by it. My wife and I love to travel to wild and beautiful places. We accelerated our travel schedule due to my Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease has helped me “slow down” to see this beauty and has given me the urgency to “hurry up” and capture as much as I can photographically while I still can. I love highly saturated pictures, full of color, full of life, with vibrant, surrealistic backgrounds. I enjoy using my camera and Photoshop to paint pictures of birds flying and bees buzzing and dragonflies basking in the sun. I hope you enjoy my pictures. Life is good!!!!!”