Why I do what I do

Why I do what I do:

 

Each summer Pat and I set off on are annual bike riding adventures. Yes, we love doing this and look forward to these trips every year.  Over the past 4 years we have raised almost $10,000 for the Davis Phinney Foundation and approximately $1,500 for Pedaling for Parkinsons. Many of you have helped us raise these monies. Thank you!

I wanted to share a little bit more detail about why we do this.  I’ll try to apply the “goldilocks” approach and give enough detail as to get my message across but not too much to bore everyone.

 

People frequently ask me how I’m doing and comment that I look like I’m doing good. I appreciate the interest in my well being.  I have been very fortunate to have received good medical care and have continually studied to learn the best ways to take care of myself.  With the combination of medication, exercise, nutrition, stress reduction, and appropriate rest, I do pretty well most of the time. A question I get asked often is how it is that I can exercise at the intensity that I do while having Parkinsons. Parkinsons is very complicated and explaining the physiology behind it would certainly break my “goldilocks”  approach.  But in a nutshell, exercise is the ONLY thing that has shown to help slow the progression of Parkinsons. Medications treat either the symptoms or the side effects of the medications. I am very grateful for the medical advances that help me manage my Parkinsons symptoms, but unfortunately all medications come with a price, i.e. side effects.  Exercise on the other hand is like medication without side effects; unless of course you want to call increased energy, better fitness, weight management, etc., etc., etc. side effects.  Unfortunately it has only been in the last 10 years that exercise has become recognized as a treatment for Parkinsons; before that PWP (people with Parkinsons) were told not to exercise in order to supposedly keep them from falling and getting hurt, I was told to stop waterskiing; I didn’t listen. Even more unfortunate is that many doctors have not jumped onto the “exercise” band wagon.  Many, if not most, PWP experience the same thing when receiving a Parkinsons diagnosis.  The doctor tells them they have Parkinsons, prescribes medication, and tells the patient to come back in 3 to 6 months. This is not to say that there are not great doctors out there, there are, but the scenario I just described happens more often than not. So, what can be done about it.  Now we’re getting to the “why I do what I do” part.

 

In October of last year I was asked to be an Ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation.  This has been a great honor which I take very seriously. When I was introduced to the Davis Phinney Foundation almost 5 years ago,  I knew I had found a home.  As an ambassador I have access to information and resources that can help bridge this gap.  Currently, I am meeting with local neurologists and other Parkinsons organizations to get these resources into the hands of PWP.  The Phinney Foundation has put together a small packet “goldilocks” again, just the right size, that has information that can be handed out to newly diagnosed, or anyone else for that matter. Included in this packet is a link to order the Victory Counts manual, or what I and my Parkie friends call the “Parkinsons Bible”.  If I could do one thing, it would be to get that manual into the hands of every PWP; “No Parkie Left Behind”.  I have had mostly positive responses from local neurologists and local Parkinsons organizations and am thrilled that right now on my kitchen table I have a pile of packets that are getting ready to deliver.  Very soon they will be in the hands of a person that very likely may be scared and has lost hope.  THIS IS WHY I DO WHAT I DO!

In order for me to continue to do what I do, fundraising efforts are essential as the Davis Phinney Foundation is a non-profit organization.  When you make a donation to Pat’s Ride the Rockies page, it’s not about the bike ride; the bike ride is simply an avenue to get the message out.  The real purpose is to help the organization continue to serve the Parkinsons community and get them the resources they need to live well. 

Right now, today, an anonymous donor is matching donations dollar for dollar. If you can, please go to the link below and donate.  Every amount helps and today, it helps double!!

 

Lastly, if you ever come across someone who needs help or information about Parkinsons, please send them my way.  I love  being able to share what I know with other PWP and to help them in any way I can, just as so many people helped me when I began my own Parkinsons journey.

 

https://my.davisphinneyfoundation.org/fundraise?fcid=614741