Intense Parkinson’s Awareness Campaign From Publicis Conseil Shows What’s Supposed to Make Us Shake

By Lindsay Rittenhouse 

On Wednesday, millions of Americans took to social media to post adorable pictures of their furry friends with the hashtag #NationalPetDay. We as dutiful social media addicts liked those pictures, “hearted” them and, in some cases, shared selfies with our own beloved Fluffies and Gingers.

One hashtag that largely flew under the radar that day was #ShakeParkinsonsOff. Not only was Wednesday April 11 National Pet Day here in the U.S., it was also a day intended to raise global awareness of a neurological disorder that affects an estimated 7 million to 10 million people worldwide—Parkinson’s Disease.

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The Brain and Spinal Cord Institute and Paris’ Publicis Conseil kicked off a campaign on World Parkinson’s Day that includes the aforementioned hashtag and an eye-opening video, to call attention to the disorder and encourage donations.

The extended 2:05 video gives us a taste of the common incidents that would make a person (in this case our protagonist “Tom”) tremble: a car crash; a fight; a first love. What viewers are supposed to take away from the spot is that people with Parkinson’s experience these tremors frequently no matter what is going on around them.

The video is being distributed online and on TV. The campaign also includes a mobile version that will trigger vibrations throughout the video so viewers can get at least a basic idea of what it’s like to live with Parkinson’s Disease.

Donate here if you speak French.

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