April is Parkinson's awareness month and on April 13, 2024, the Parkinson's Foundation Gulf Coast will be hosting Moving Day, a walk for Parkinson's Disease. The Parkinson's Foundation uses Moving Day as a way to promote the importance of movement for Parkinson's patients. This is a great opportunity to support the Foundation. The Parkinson's Foundation helps fight Parkinson's disease by delivering care to nearly 2,000 people living with Parkinson's, funding research aimed at better treatment, and providing free resources and local services for Parkinson's patients and their caregivers.

     I love Moving Day!  Why you ask?  Because it is a great opportunity to get off the couch and MOVE! And oh, how important it is for Parkinson's patients to move!  Movement, whether it is biking, swimming, pickle ball, running, tennis, strength training, hiking, walking, yoga or Tai Chi, is extremely important for Parkinson's patients.  Movement for Parkinson's patients is important because it helps manage the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease and movement can also help delay the progression of the disease.

     I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in October, 2014.  That is almost 10 years!  I am so grateful for the Parkinson's Foundation because it was through this foundation I learned the importance of exercise for Parkinson's patients.  And yes, I have been consistently exercising for 10 years.  I began my exercise program by hiring a personal trainer when I was first diagnosed, plus I rode my bike 6 miles every day when I was at the beach or a stationary bike when I was not at the beach.  I also swam laps whenever I had the chance.  I soon discovered Rock Steady Boxing for Parkinson's patients and signed up to box! This is an incredible program!  It is a non contact boxing program designed specifically for Parkinson's patients.  I participate in this boxing program three times a week and do strength training with a personal trainer twice a week.  I truly believe my consistent exercise program has given me the ability to remain independent plus feel good as a Parkinson's patient.  It was just this past year after seeing my neurologist, that I did not have to increase any of my Parkinson's medications or add any new medications;  I attribute this to my dedication to move and exercise every day.

     To celebrate the importance of movement for Parkinson's patients, I want to invite you to join my team, "The 1300 Club", on April 13, 2024 at 9:00am at SAAD Healthcare, 1515 South University Blvd., Mobile, AL.  You can join us as we walk that "One Mile Walk" to celebrate the importance of movement.  I also would like to invite you to join my team by donating to the Parkinson's Foundation Gulf Coast.  I would love for you to help my team work toward our goal of raising $5000 for the Parkinson's Foundation Gulf Coast.  To donate,  go to our team page and find our team roster and click on my name. It is important to raise this money so the Parkinson's Foundation can continue to improve care and support research with the goal of eliminating Parkinson's Disease for good!  

     Thank you for your support!  If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me.  I hope to see you on April 13th so we can move and exercise together!