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Focus on a Cure for Parkinsons

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About Me


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According to the Parkinson's Disease Association

-Parkinson's disease may actually affect more than one million Americans, if estimated misdiagnosed and undiagnosed cases are combined with the current 500,000 documented cases in the U.S.
-Considering the total at an estimated one million cases, more people suffer from Parkinson's disease than from MS, MD and Lou Gehrig's disease combined.
-Parkinson's disease is the second-most prevalent chronic neurological disorder; only Alzheimer's disease surpasses it in the number of patients afflicted.
-The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown.
-The cost of Parkinson's disease in the U.S. - including medical and surgical treatments, social security payments, patients' loss of income and other factors - is estimated at $25 billion each year.

Our Mission:

To inspire community involvement and raise awareness for Parkinson’s Disease, that will fund research to ultimately find a cure.


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Our story:
In late 2004 life was good, I had just finished my Bachelors degree after a 20 year hiatus and I was happily married. I thought I had finally made it, I was going to finally live up to my potential that everyone said I was not doing. It was just then when I was riding the highest wave of my life I was blind sided with the news I had Young Onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD).
It was like someone was dangling that carrot of success in front of me on the edge of a cliff and instead of giving me the carrot they pushed me off the cliff. I thought this cannot be happening, every time I get close to success it gets pulled out of my reach. It was this experience that has changed my view on just what success is.
My best friend, who also is my beautiful wife Ann Marie of almost nine years, decided that she was not going to let me wallow in self pity. She began to research this strange new thing in our life called YOPD and educate herself on what was to come and how to deal with it. During her search she came across The Michael J. Fox Foundation site (MJFF); which has a tremendous amount of information for the newly diagnosed as well as general information about current treatments. I am and have always been a fan of Mr. Fox from Family Ties to all his movies but I never thought we would have something in common and never thought it would be YOPD. Ann found on his site a new program they were getting ready to launch later in 2005 called Team Fox for Parkinson’s Research. This was to be a grassroots community based fundraising arm of the MJFF giving anybody the opportunity and tools to organize or host a fundraising event to benefit Parkinson’s research as this is currently no cure.
Ann joined the soon to be Team Fox as “Team Glowienke” but did not tell me of it as this time. I was still busy being mad at the world because I thought YOPD was going to steal my life, boy was I wrong. Ann began planning a walk-a-thon as her first event with Team Fox and finally let me in on the secret. I was overwhelmed that she had done all this and was not sure if it would work. As she was planning the event we started to work together of a name and finally came up with the idea of Focus on a Cure because no matter what we do we want to stay focused on our ultimate goal of funding and finding a cure. To date Focus on a Cure has raised over $11,000 for Team Fox and we hope to keep pushing that number up as the year goes on with our walk event and other things currently being planned. Because of the efforts of my wife The Focus on a Cure Foundation for Parkinson’s is no a official no-profit company. We have grown our network of friends not only here on myspace but nationally and internationally within the Parkinson’s community.
This is where my new definition of success comes in. I used to think I needed to make a certain amount of money to be considered a success and have the finer things in life to be viewed as successful. I now know that being a success is to be able o look at your life and be satisfied with who you are not what you have in the bank. I have been blessed in my life with many things, a loving wife, a great family and great friends: but my greatest blessing is the burden of Parkinson’s because it has allowed me to become involved in something bigger than me and given me the ability to be a better person than I thought was possible. Success to me is not so much impressing others with what I have but impressing the guy that looks back at me in the mirror every morning with what I give; it is because of Ann and her love and support I am able to be the person I am today.Thanks for reading our story and being part of Focusing on a Cure for Parkinson’s disease. Together we can make this happen!!!
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."

My Interests


To follow is a passage from the Book Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts. When I read this I was so taken by the message of these few paragraphs that it confirmed for me why we (ann and & I) were blessed with the burden of Parkinson's disease. Ann always tells me that everything happens for a reason and I believe that more and more each day. Some people look to God and say "Why me" I say "Why not me". I believe that I have been given a gift, in that I have the ability to use my medical condition to reach out to people and utilize my experiences to demonstrate how to live with Parkinson's and not to suffer from it. Thank you to all who have read and commented thus far the support is what keeps us moving forward.
Ken ======================================="If we get caught up in chasing what the world defines as success, we can use our time and talent to do some great things. We might even become famous. But in the end, what does it all mean?What will people remember us for? Are other peoples lives better because we lived? Did we make a difference? Did we use to the fullest the gifts and abilities God gave us? Did we give our best effort, and did we do it for the right reasons?God's definition of success is really one of significance---the significant difference our lives can make in the lives of others. This significance doesn't show up in win-loss records, long resumes, or the trophies gathering dust on our mantels. It's found in the hearts and lives of those we've come across who are in some way better because of the way we lived."



Our 2007 CafePress/Focus on a cure design winner

Design created and submitted by Marjorie J. Toro http://www.myspace.com/mjtoro

Please stop by her site to see other incredible original works of art. This design is now available in our CafePress store!


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I'd like to meet:

Michael J. Fox
We met 4-27-07 what a night to remember

Muhammad Ali

Music:


"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music."



Movies:

Shaken: Journey into the Mind of a Parkinson's Patient



Television:

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Books:


"No Excuses, No Explanations"


Tony Dungy

Heroes:


These are people who either live with PD every day or are champions of the cause to Focus on a Cure.



In memory of Kaz's dad Bob; who lost his battle with Parkinson's and Cancer 4-18-07. We will continue our fight to honor his memory and all those that have gone before us.

My Blog

Thought this was interesting from parkinsonprofile.com

..TR style="HEIGHT: 10.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"> Codes: M=mental, P=physical, S=social E=emotional, F=financial, H=higher power/spiritual A C T I O N E X A M P L E S M...
Posted by Focus on a Cure for Parkinsons on Fri, 23 May 2008 10:50:00 PST

Ponderisms from Ken

Something to ponder on, more to come...... What defines you? ========= disable Verb [disabled] to make ineffective, unfit, or incapable   enable Verb   [enabled] 1. to provide (someone) ...
Posted by Focus on a Cure for Parkinsons on Fri, 23 May 2008 08:13:00 PST

Video from Fox News Chicago on Parkinson’s Break Through

Break through or irresponsible journalism? You make the call     http://www.myfoxchicago.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsession id=E846C4242628210502ABC08F6FD2A6EF?contentId=6597822&versio n=1&l...
Posted by Focus on a Cure for Parkinsons on Fri, 23 May 2008 07:53:00 PST

Major ’Missed’ Biochemical Pathway

Major 'Missed' Biochemical Pathway Emerges As Important In Virtually All Cells ScienceDaily (May 23, 2008)  A new study by Duke University researchers provides more evidence that the nitric oxide (N...
Posted by Focus on a Cure for Parkinsons on Fri, 23 May 2008 07:44:00 PST

Michael J. Fox Gets Degree

Michael J. Fox Gets Degree Michael J. Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, has received an honorary degree from the University of British Columbia. And, as soon as he got the honor...
Posted by Focus on a Cure for Parkinsons on Fri, 23 May 2008 07:39:00 PST

Growth Factor Promotes New Neuron Growth in Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease

May 13, 2008   Newswise Mice induced to develop Parkinson's disease show an increase in the growth of new neurons after they are treated with a well known growth factor. The research, to be pub...
Posted by Focus on a Cure for Parkinsons on Wed, 14 May 2008 06:56:00 PST

Just a reminder

The Focus on a Cure Foundation for Parkinson's 2008 Picnic in the PARKinson's event is just a week away RAIN OR SHINE! The event will have a large tent to accommodate our crowd in case of inclement we...
Posted by Focus on a Cure for Parkinsons on Sun, 11 May 2008 07:28:00 PST

Eye cell implants improve Parkinson’s symptoms

By implanting specialized cells found in the human eye into areas of the brain damaged by Parkinson's disease, researchers were able to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life in people with mode...
Posted by Focus on a Cure for Parkinsons on Sun, 11 May 2008 05:36:00 PST

Democratic Leaders Could Cure What Ails Us

May 8, 2008 Democratic Leaders Could Cure What Ails Us By Harold Ford Jr. and Al From Commercial Appeal OnlineBy the time our next president takes the office, 50 million Americans will be livi...
Posted by Focus on a Cure for Parkinsons on Sat, 10 May 2008 03:11:00 PST

Champion Cyclist Regains Control of His Life in Battle with Parkinson’s

April 26, 2008 Cycling in Marin: Champion Cyclist Regains Control of His Life in Battle with Parkinson's By Bob Cullinan, Marin Independent JournalIF you're looking for minor miracles, look no furt...
Posted by Focus on a Cure for Parkinsons on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:50:00 PST