Hello from John "JR" Russell….

I am participating in Moving Day for the first time sponsored by the Parkinson's Foundation.

I was diagnosed with young/early onset Parkinson's disease in 2012. This was very surprising to my wife and me, but this diagnosis enabled us to finally have an answer for the physical symptoms I was experiencing for over two years. Receiving a Parkinson's diagnosis in my forties was not something that I wanted to hear, but through God's grace, my family and I are moving forward in living life and "fighting back" against Parkinson's disease.

PD affects almost 1 million people in the US and millions more around the world. Around 8% of people living with Parkinson's were diagnosed under the age of fifty and are considered Young/Early Onset, and I am a member of this group.

For over five years after my diagnosis, I tried to live life as normally as possible. I worked (and still work) full-time, and I approached my life as a husband, father and Cru staff member in much the same way as before I was diagnosed. However, since PD is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease and without a cure, I started to feel a greater impact of the PD symptoms on my body and in my life. With things changing, I sensed the need to connect with others who were living with Parkinson's and for the first time, after my diagnosis, I met other people with Parkinson's by joining a support group and started participating in Rock Steady Boxing, which is an exercise therapy program for people with Parkinson's that uses the training exercises that a boxer uses to help lessen the impact of PD on the mind, body and spirit.

I am participating in the Parkinson's Foundation Moving Day to help raise awareness and funding to improve the lives of people who have been impacted by Parkinson's disease. I have personally benefited from the awareness and funding that Moving Day has brought to the Parkinson's Foundation. This awareness and funding has been used to support a variety of programs, events, educational awareness, and connection to others. I would like to ask if you would consider sponsoring me for Moving Day in Raleigh, NC on November 7, 2020.

Thank you and God bless!
John “JR” Russell

P.S. The event will be a fun-filled, family-friendly event for all ages and abilities. We will be able to enjoy a variety of movement activities like yoga, dance, Pilates, Tai Chi, boxing, stretching and much more and celebrate the importance of movement in our lives.

Please consider being a part of my team or sponsoring me, and I encourage you to get your friends, family and coworkers involved.

Thank you for helping me reach my fundraising goal to support the vital work of the Parkinson's Foundation.

Why Move for Moving Day?

Did you know that someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease every 9 minutes in the United States? No one should have to face Parkinson’s alone. That is why the Parkinson's Foundation provides a community of support to give people the resources and help they need to live well with Parkinson’s.


Support our mission to help every person diagnosed with Parkinson's live their best possible life now. Your gift will help us fund better research, better treatment and better lives.