You might wonder why a giant tulip is part of downtown Detroit’s skyline over the next month.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is lighting up its headquarters building with the flower for a month, officially starting today.
The goal of the giant tulip is to show the company’s support and raise awareness of the 25,000 or so people in Michigan who have Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative brain disorder. Common symptons include rigidity, slowness of movement and tremors.
About A million people in the U.S. have Parkinson’s disease and while there’s no known cure, many people affected respond well to dopamine-replenishing drugs.
A name you might know as a Detroiter is living with Parkinson’s. He’s former Detroit Tiger and current color commentator Kirk Gibson. His foundation, the Kirk Gibson Foundation, along with BCBSM and the Michigan Parkinson’s foundation have started a year-long partnership to raise awareness.
Go do something: The “Everybody vs. Parkinson’s” gala is happening Saturday, October 19th. Tickets are available here.