#HaveParkinsonsWillTravel
Wesley Della Volla, 43, will be taking a year away from his idyllic home in Canaan Valley, WV to travel around the US + Canada in a Jayco camper being pulled by his Ford Bronco. Just him, 1 of the 110 people diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease under the age of 34, and his two service dogs Ginny & Stanley. As a Michael J. Fox Foundation Social Media Influencer, Wes will travel to see his fellow MJFF social media cohort to swap stories, while also serving as a Strategic Creative Advisor for the Environmental Working Group, where he will stop at state capitals to meet with politicians and advocates to further the EWG’s initiative to ban the Parkinson’s-causing pesticide paraquat.
With decades of experience as a National Geographic Society filmmaker & experience designer, Wes will travel to connect with his vast network of NatGeo Explorers and storytellers, with stops at National Parks and research sites to explore majestic parts of the US + Canada. He intends to use this journey to bring together the power of nature and community connection in his fight to keep the symptoms of his Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease at bay.
A toxic weedkiller linked to Parkinson’s disease
Paraquat is banned in more than 70 countries, but millions of pounds of paraquat are sprayed in the U.S. every year. Paraquat threatens the people who apply the chemical, those who work on farms, and others who live nearby.
Paraquat Near You:
Paraquat Near You:
An interactive map showing where paraquat is sprayed throughout the U.S.
