Mark Mercier was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1997 at the age of 39. In January 2003, Guy Gibbs, a close friend of Mark's, came up with a plan to celebrate Mark's birthday by inviting a small group of friends to a charity dinner for Parkinson's disease research. The outcome was overwhelming: over 120 attendees and more than $10,000.00 raised! The tremendous success of the now-named 'Mercier Shaker' led to a decision to apply for status as an official charity.
The Mark Mercier Foundation was registered in early 2004 with full recognition by the Canada Revenue Agency. All contributions are tax deductible.
The key objective of the foundation is to raise funds in support of research for a cure and/or for aids or services that will help improve the quality of life for those living with neurological disorders. Such disorders include Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, Dystonia, Restless Leg Syndrome, Essential Tremor, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Funding comes from direct donations and through two annual invitational events: early February's "Mercier Shaker" and early September's "Mercier Shanker" Golf Tournament.
Thanks to the tremendous generosity of our family of supporters, over 1 million dollars has been raised to date.
The foundation has no paid employees - it relies exclusively on volunteers. All legal, accounting, and administrative services are kindly provided at no cost. We assure you that all contributions will be allocated wisely and used effectively in the pursuit of our objectives.
The directors and founders greatly appreciate the generosity of our supporters and volunteers.
