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3rd Annual Walk Off Parksinson’s slated for Sunday

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON –Parkinson’s disease is getting even more attention after the world learned that Robin Williams was in the early stages of the illness before he died last month.

A local Parkinson’s foundation is hoping to use that momentum to spread awareness even more.

Sponsored by The Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area, the 3rd annual Walk Off Parkinson’s event will be held at Nationals Park today. Gates will open at 8:30 a.m. The event and parking are free.

The Walk Off Parkinson’s event is about raising awareness and funds; it’s also about connecting people to resources, organizers tell WTOP. They say there will be plenty of educational material available at the event, too.

Jared Cohen, president and CEO of the foundation, said some of the area’s leading physicians who specialize in Parkinson’s are expected to attend, and will be available to answer questions right there.

For Donna Schena, the foundation board chair, Parkinson’s became very personal five years ago when her husband was diagnosed with it.

She says raising awareness is critical because no other organization in the D.C. area provides the support, exercise and services that this foundation provides, and for free.

The foundation offers 115 exercise classes, communication classes, and support groups for Parkinson’s patients, as well as caregivers.

“The exercise, the communication classes are important,” Schena says. “But the support groups are so vitally important as well. One of the things we know about Parkinson’s is that when people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, many times they don’t want to share that information even within their family. It’s a very lonely disease at times.” She says the foundation is a vital link for patients who don’t want to keep their diagnosis to themselves.

Although there’s no cure for Parkinson’s, exercise can help slow its progression. Besides exercise, the foundation offers choir and communications classes (since Parkinson’s affects the voice). “They (patients) get to see you just don’t give up, you can’t, and that’s a big part of what our foundation does,” Schena said.

Monies raised will go to instructors and for the facilities.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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