Resident's artwork selected for calendar
—Courtesy photo A.C. Woolnough, right, and his grandson, Nathan, pose for a photo. One of Woolnough’s photos was selected to appear in the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation’s 2016 Creativity and Parkinson’s Calendar.
—Courtesy photo “Paddle On” by A.C. Woolnough was picked to appear in the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation’s 2016 calendar.
Sandpoint resident A.C. Woolnough is one of 13 artists whose artwork was selected to appear in the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation’s 2016 Creativity and Parkinson’s Calendar. His photograph of kayaks entitled “Paddle On” is the featured artwork for the month of August in PDF’s nationally distributed calendar which helps raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease.
A volunteer with several PDF programs, Woolnough recently put his love of kayaking to work to help end Parkinson’s. With his 9-year-old grandson Nathan, he helped raise $700 for PDF last month in a Paddle for Parkinson’s around Lake Pend Oreille. Since his diagnosis, Woolnough said his other favorite hobby of photography has served as a therapeutic creative outlet.
“After my Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2014, I initially struggled with denial. But photography gave me an avenue to demonstrate my worth as an artist and a person. It helped me realize I am still the same person, just with new challenges. I was so excited when my artwork was selected for the 2016 Creativity and Parkinson’s Calendar,” he added.
“Although my family and friends always liked my photography, this is the first national recognition I have received.”
More than 400 other people with Parkinson’s have shared their artwork and experiences with PDF’s Creativity and Parkinson’s Project. The project explores, supports and encourages the therapeutic value of creativity in Parkinson’s. Mr. Woolnough’s photograph of colorful kayaks was chosen among these individuals to be featured in PDF’s annual print calendar, which is distributed to nearly 20,000 people.
“PDF is proud to showcase Mr. Woolnough’s artwork in the calendar,” said Robin Elliott, CEO of PDF.
“His work serves as a source of hope and inspiration to the nearly one million others in the US living with Parkinson’s disease.”
To support A.C. Woolnough’s Paddle for Parkinson’s fundraising efforts, visit his personal fundraising page at http://support.pdf.org/P4P.
To learn more about PDF’s Creativity and Parkinson’s Calendar, contact the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation at (800) 457-6676 or info@pdf.org or visit www.pdf.org/creativity.