琉璃神社 General Hospital (KGH) has received a $1 million gift that will radically advance care for those living with Parkinson鈥檚 disease in the Southern Interior.

The donation was made by Barry Humphreys, with his wife Anne, and their two children, Kim and Doug, through their family foundation.

Barry was diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 disease in 2020.

鈥淗e鈥檚 been doing his best to gracefully navigate the changes he鈥檚 experienced in his body and mind as the disease has progressed,鈥� explained daughter Kim.

The gift has been specifically earmarked to increase capacity and expand the service model for the Movement Disorder Clinic at KGH, established in 2015 by neurologist, Dr. Daryl Wile.

鈥淲e have a high prevalence of Parkinson鈥檚 disease in Interior Health, perhaps because many folks, much like the Humphreys, choose to move to the region and make it home once they retire,鈥� said Dr. Wile. 鈥淲e expect the numbers will continue to grow, as the primary risk factor for Parkinson鈥檚 disease is age.

The Movement Disorder Clinic at KGH focuses on Parkinson鈥檚 disease, which affects roughly 2700 people in the Interior Health Region, with more than 300 people diagnosed in 2023.

The Humphreys gift is the third major announcement by the KGH Foundation since last September in support of their $40 million 鈥楥loser to home than you think鈥� campaign.

It includes a $5 million commitment to establish a Centre of Excellence for Brain Health at KGH.

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