Sunday, February 23, 2025, 2:02AM |  33°
MENU
Advertisement
Kim Cagni of Mt. Lebanon, left, who has Parkinson’s disease, works with Linda Kearns of Mt. Lebanon to arrange Ms. Cagni’s painted doors and other artwork for her exhibit “A Door It!” at Bicycle Heaven.
1
MORE

Mt. Lebanon woman’s artwork to help fund fight against Parkinson’s

Bill Wade/Post-Gazette

Mt. Lebanon woman’s artwork to help fund fight against Parkinson’s

Old doors with painted scenes and a number of her colorful craft works will be available

Within one year of each other, in 2004 and 2005, Kim Cagni and Dan McCarthy were diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease. Then in their 40s, they had been friends since Ms. Cagni and Mr. McCarthy's wife worked together at The Pittsburgh Press in the 1980s.

But their shared affliction has created another layer of bonding in a new campaign to raise consciousness and funding for research. Both said they believe it isn't currently sufficient to find a cure, or at least more proactive treatments, for what Ms. Cagni calls "daily neurological combat."

Their first fundraiser in a campaign to fund a cure begins with an art show and sale at 7 p.m. today at Bicycle Heaven in Chateau.

Advertisement

Old doors that Ms. Cagni covered with painted scenes and a number of her colorful craft works will be available. Proceeds will be donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Mr. Fox, the actor who rose to fame from the 1980s sit-com "Family Ties," was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's at age 30.

The art show is free and open to the public. Bicycle Heaven is at 1800 Preble Ave., across Columbus Avenue from the Manchester Craftsman's Guild. The entrance is in a parking lot at the corner of Columbus and Metropolitan Street.

Ms. Cagni and her husband, Bill Young, had collected old doors over the years, and they appealed to her as a canvas. Asked if their use borrows from the metaphor for opportunity, she said "Yeah, there are many meanings."

Mr. McCarthy, who encouraged her to show and sell her work and is working on the marketing end, said another advantage to painting doors is that they come "already framed."

Advertisement

Ms. Cagni credits him with the idea to use her art for fundraising. It was already her outlet for emotional healing after her diagnosis ended her career as a flight attendant.

"At first I was bitter," she said, "but a good way out of that is to make art. Danny said, 'We're going to run with this and we're going to make a difference.'"

"I wasn't doing anything to bring awareness to this disease," said Mr. McCarthy, a partner and CEO of Vista Window Co. who also has an art background. "But when I saw the doors Kim was doing and some of her other art work, it inspired me to start brainstorming on how we could bring her art to the masses and raise money for Parkinson's at the same time.

"We are working on a two-pronged approach, starting with selling as much art as we can and raising as much money as we can to continue to sell as much art as we can and keep raising money for research. If we can generate enough interest and capital, we want to put together a common site where artists can market their art and agree to giving 15-20 percent," for Parkinson's. "We have so many artist friends whose ears perk up when they hear what we're doing."

Parkinson's disease causes degeneration in the brain that leads to tremors and muscle rigidity.

"Everyone has common symptoms, but they affect people in different ways," Mr. McCarthy said.

Mr. Young said the key to finding "something different than the therapies there are now will be driven by research. All the current therapies are oriented around the symptoms: stopping tremors, making walking easier, unfreezing the foot. But none of it gets to heart of issue, the problem with the brain and the development of dopamine.

"We think it's a question of funding and priorities," he said. "We want to get the profile up higher. Our next step will be to acquire some space and market [art] in a more significant way."

First Published: November 15, 2013, 5:05 a.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
York County District Attorney Timothy J. Barker reacts during a news conference regarding the shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pa. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
1
news
Police officer killed, gunman dead in shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York
The University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning
2
business
Amid funding uncertainty, Pitt pauses doctoral admissions
Elon Musk told federal workers Saturday that they must respond to an email by summarizing their accomplishments for the week, repeating a tactic he used to cull the workforce at his social media company.
3
news
Elon Musk gives all federal workers 48 hours to explain what they did last week
Pirates outfielder DJ Stewart gets congratulations from teammates after his home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of the Grapefruit League season at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
4
sports
5 takeaways from Pirates' spring training victory over Orioles
Mike Lange’s family, coworkers, and friends stand on the ice during a memorial celebration of Lange’s career and life at the PPG Paints Arena before the Penguins take on the Washington Capitols on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. Mike passed away on the 19th and was a beloved play-by-play announcer for the Pittsburgh Penguins for 46 years.
5
sports
Jason Mackey: Penguins hit all the right notes in honoring icon Mike Lange
Kim Cagni of Mt. Lebanon, left, who has Parkinson’s disease, works with Linda Kearns of Mt. Lebanon to arrange Ms. Cagni’s painted doors and other artwork for her exhibit “A Door It!” at Bicycle Heaven.  (Bill Wade/Post-Gazette)
Bill Wade/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST local
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story