Warrior Wall

Welcome to our Warrior Wall, a space dedicated to honoring the steadfast courage of those engaged in the fierce battle against Atypical Parkinsonism, and to memorialize those beautiful souls we have tragically lost. Each name listed here is a poignant testament to both the unwavering resilience of those who continue their fight each day, and the enduring legacy of those we've lost. Their spirit, bravery, and tenacity echo in these words, serving as a beacon of strength and inspiration for us all. This Wall stands as a tribute to their journey, a celebration of their indomitable spirit, and a solemn promise to carry their legacy forward.

We would be honoured to add your warrior to our wall, contact us

Warrior Wall

Coleen Cunningham, May 18 2019, Coleen was a true fighter who battled Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) with incredible strength and courage. Despite the challenges she faced with PSP, Coleen remained a loving and caring woman who always put others first. She was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother who cherished her family and friends. Coleen's kindness and compassion touched the lives of many, and her memory will continue to inspire us.

Coleen's resilience and determination in the face of PSP were truly remarkable. She refused to let the disease define her, instead choosing to live her life to the fullest and make the most of every day. She was a role model to many and a source of strength for her loved ones.

Coleen's legacy is one of bravery and love. Her strength and fighting spirit continue to inspire us all as we work together to raise awareness and support for PSP research. She was a remarkable woman who embodied the best of what it means to be a fighter and a loving person. Her legacy will continue to inspire us all to never give up hope and to cherish the time we have with our loved ones.

Doug Murphy- On Tuesday, April 6, our beloved husband, father, brother, son-in-law, cousin and friend, left this world peacefully on his own terms, with his wife Lynn, son Sean, and daughter, Julia by his side and surrounded by the love of his family and friends.  Doug lost his speech early on from Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) and then was later diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) which affected his speech, walking, balance, eye movements, vision and swallowing.  Throughout the 8 years he battled these brain disorders he never lost his sense of humour, the twinkle in his eye or his ability to show his love through his eyes - a very brave feat for someone going through this debilitating disease. He decided that since he had so little influence over the everyday events of his life, he could at least control his end of life experience and made the courageous decision to leave this world with the assistance of MAID.

Kathy (Katica) Warwick passed away at Ridgeview Long Term Care Centre on September 9, 2023, at the age of 74, surrounded by her loving family after a valiant battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare neurodegenerative disorder.
WILL, James David (Jim) It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jim Will on Friday, February 14, 2020 at The Meadows LTC with his wife by his side. Jim loved fishing, biking, birds, our travel trailer, the sun and lots of music, he loved his dogs Ruby, Hutch and Lily. Progressive Supranuclear Palsy is the rare disease Jim battled.
Donna Lynn Hicks, October 15, 2019, It is with the heaviest of hearts and with the greatest of sadness that we share with you the passing of our beautiful and beloved mother/wife/sister/aunt/grandmother Donna Lynn Hicks. As with everything in her life our mother was forced to fight a winless battle with a rare and positively wretched brain disease called Progressive Supra-nuclear Palsy...(AKA PSP)
Luis Alberto Bernardino, born September 11, 1956, died on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 surrounded by his family. Luis will be deeply missed by Ana Maria (née Vieira), his loving and devoted wife of almost 44 years, his four children Fernando (Tania Luz), Daniel (Emily Bovey), Paulo, and Roberto (Jessie Ward), his cherished grandchildren, Brayden, Oliver, and Sylvie, his sisters Fatima Bernardino and Maria Dias, and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Michael Sullivan, With a heavy heart we announce the passing of our dear husband, father, grandfather, brother and brother-in-law, Michael Gerard Sullivan, March 5, 2024. He passed away at the age of 65 at Lakeridge Health Hospital, Oshawa, ON with his family by his side, after a long battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.
Katherine (Kathy) Petford, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2023 after a long, courageous battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Loved by all who knew her, Kathy will be remembered as a dedicated wife, mother and a loyal, fun-loving friend to many. Affectionately referred to as “Sweet Kathy P”, Kathy kept a busy social life and was an active member of and volunteer in the Oakville community.
Margo Y. Crichlow, aged 63, from Toronto, Ontario, sadly passed away on January 24, 2024, after bravely battling Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Her family mourns the loss of this joyful and humorous soul.
Richard Boyce passed away peacefully on June 17th 2023, at age 76 at Trillium Long Term Care Facility in Kingston Ontario after a long battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Richard was born on September 9, 1946 in Toronto, Ontario to Beryl and Aubrey Boyce. Richard had a long career with Bell Canada after which he enjoyed working in Virginia, USA for Verizon.

Frederick Simon Malleau, On Sunday, April 7 2019, at Lakeridge Health, Oshawa, Frederick Malleau passed away after enduring Aphasia and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy for many years. He was 75.

Hoffman, Gary, 78, of Waterloo, Ontario, passed away peacefully at home on May 2, 2022, four years after being diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a degenerative neurological disorder.

Patricia Margaret FitzsimmonsAfter a long journey with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Pat passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on Sunday, April 7th 2019, at the age of 70.

Les H. (for hero) Bertouche, September 10, 1931 – September 22, 2016
With heavy hearts, we announce that Les has left us. Les died of complications from the rare neurological condition Progressive Supranuclear Palsy after a brave 5 year battle. His wife Lee was by his side, right where she has been happily “velcroed” for 47 years.
Faye Marie Graham- The family wishes to announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, our dear Faye Marie Graham, after her courageous selfless battle, with PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy).

John ALLAN, On the morning of February 23rd, 2024, John Allan of Victoria, BC ended his brave battle with progressive supranuclear palsy and passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, and on his own terms, by receiving Medical Assistance in Dying at the age of 78

Gerald "Gerry" Gallinger - Passed away in 2024 in Fernie, BC. Known for his humor and love for the outdoors.

Callen Patricia Hull, It is with great sorrow that we had to say goodbye to Callen Hull, who passed away peacefully on May 29th, 2024. She had a very rare condition called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), which caused her to decline steadily for a number of years. She was a sister, a motorcyclist, a nurse, a foster mom and a great, great friend and will be sorely missed by all her knew her.

Kenneth R. Swanson, 76, passed away on April 3, 2024, surrounded by family after a long battle with PSP. He was an avid outdoorsman and a Vietnam War veteran. A memorial service with military honors was held on April 9, 2024, in Tomahawk, WI.
Charles Allen "Chuck" Ashe, 70, passed away on May 9, 2024, after a battle with PSP. He was known for his love of outdoor sports and community involvement. A celebration of life service will be held on May 14, 2024, in Gloucester Point, VA.
Jeffrey "Jeff" B. King, 65, passed away on March 2, 2024, after battling PSP. He will be remembered in a memorial service on April 12, 2024, in Butler, PA. Donations in his memory can be made to CurePSP.
John Kreuser, aged 70, passed away on March 12, 2024, from complications of PSP. John had a background in accounting and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing. A Memorial Celebration will be held on May 4, 2024, in Madison, WI.
 Jan C. Heddan, 72, passed away peacefully on December 7, 2023, after a courageous battle with PSP. She was an Operating Room Technician at North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale, MN, and retired after 30 years of service. A celebration of her life will be held in Spring 2024.

Camille Joseph Côté, In 2019 he was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia. In 2020 he received the devastating diagnosis of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Throughout the last few years, he continued to navigate these insidious illnesses with strength, humour, faith, and the love of his family and friends. These dreadful diseases took his voice, his body and eventually his life. He never complained but rather saw the blessings in each day. 

GLOWINSKI, Merna - Passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, July 9, 2023. Merna Glowinski, beloved wife of the late Melvin Glowinski. Loving mother and mother- in-law of Cory and Julia, and Kevin and Alana. Dear sister and sister-in-law of Fern Mosoff and Paul Magder. Devoted grandmother of Skye, Oakley, Levi, and Oliver. A special thank you to Elsie, Grace, and VIVA staff for their loving care and support. A graveside service will be held on Monday, July 10th at 11:00 a.m. in the Temple Har Zion section of Pardes Shalom Cemetery, 10953 Dufferin Street, Vaughan (north of Major MacKenzie). Memorial donations may be made to the Coleen Cunningham Foundation c/o UHN Foundation https://bit.ly/3PN0Kcg

 

About Us: 

The Coleen Cunningham Foundation serves individuals and families dealing with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) and Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD).

Mission

The Coleen Cunningham Foundation (CCF) is dedicated to honoring the legacy of Coleen Cunningham by providing comprehensive support to individuals and families affected by Atypical Parkinsonism. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for those impacted by these rare neurological disorders through compassionate care, advocacy, and education. We strive to foster a supportive community, offer respite and hospice care, and advance the understanding and management of Atypical Parkinsonism.

Objectives

1. Provide Compassionate Respite and Hospice Care

  • Respite Vacations: Offer families affected by Atypical Parkinsonism the opportunity to create cherished memories through specially designed respite vacations.
  • Respite Hospice in the Caribbean: Establish a dedicated hospice facility in the Caribbean that provides comprehensive care and relaxation for families, ensuring a serene environment for both patients and caregivers.

2. Support and Empower Families and Caregivers

  • Support Groups: Facilitate regular support group meetings to provide emotional and practical support for caregivers, patients, and families.
  • Educational Resources: Develop and distribute educational materials to help families and caregivers understand and manage the complexities of Atypical Parkinsonism.
  • Advocacy: Advocate for the needs and rights of those affected by Atypical Parkinsonism at both the local and national levels.

3. Advance Medical Understanding and Management

  • Collaborative Research: Partner with medical institutions and researchers to support studies aimed at understanding Atypical Parkinsonism and developing effective treatments.
  • Medical Insights and Training: Provide healthcare professionals with the latest insights and training on Atypical Parkinsonism to improve patient care.

4. Promote Awareness and Education

  • Public Awareness Campaigns: Conduct campaigns to raise public awareness about Atypical Parkinsonism and the challenges faced by those affected.
  • Educational Events: Host seminars, webinars, and workshops to educate the public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers about Atypical Parkinsonism.

5. Foster a Supportive Community

  • Online Community Platform: Create and maintain an online platform where individuals and families can share experiences, find support, and access resources.
  • Engage with Stakeholders: Build partnerships with organizations, companies, and individuals dedicated to supporting neurological disorders to enhance our outreach and impact.

6. Expand Global Reach

  • International Collaboration: Work with international partners to share knowledge, resources, and best practices in the care and management of Atypical Parkinsonism.
  • Resource Distribution: Ensure that educational and support materials are accessible to a global audience, reaching as many affected individuals and families as possible.

Commitment to Excellence

At the Coleen Cunningham Foundation, we are committed to excellence in all our endeavors. We pledge to uphold the highest standards of care, compassion, and professionalism in our services, ensuring that every individual and family we support receives the best possible assistance and guidance.

Together, we can navigate the challenges of Atypical Parkinsonism, creating a brighter future for those affected by this condition.

No One Walks Alone!

Laura Louizos
Executive Director
Coleen Cunningham Foundation for
PSP Awareness