by The Parkinson Alliance | Mar 2, 2016 | Team Parkinson
By Edna Ball, Team Parkinson
Team Parkinson had a great time on race weekend! We started with the traditional setting up of our booth at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Thursday afternoon. Now we were ready to go!
The Expo opened on Friday morning and we eagerly greeted our participants who came by the booth to pick up their TP t-shirts. We also had the pleasure of having our booth sponsors, join us as well.
Early on Saturday morning we headed to Dodger Stadium for our participation in the LA Big 5K. TP fielded a team of over 70 runners and walkers, all smiles in their beautiful blue TP t-shirts. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and all our starters finished as well. Special kudos go to Phil Miller, Eddie Schindler, John MacDougal and Debbie Jew for walking over the finish line upright and proud. And congratulations to all our 5K participants from Sarah’s 5K Training Team and our START support group. Thank you Sarah Ingersoll and Steve Mackel for leading the troops again! It’s so inspiring to see so many who are living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), work so hard to stay fit and thereby improve the quality of their lives. Wear your medals with great pride!
On Saturday evening we hosted our traditional carbo loading dinner at Taix French Restaurant. Over 80 people enjoyed an inspiring evening of speakers and camaraderie. Carol Walton made the initial introductions. Dr. Gal Bitan gave us a very hope filled update on his research that Team Parkinson is helping to fund. Dr. Jeffrey Wertheimer and Didi Matthews gave an excellent presentation on all the positive things one can do both physically and mentally to improve one’s quality of life with PD. Much of their advice focused on community, and this group at dinner was a glowing example of how involvement in community is so beneficial. John Ball spoke about all the support we get every day from those in our lives and thanked his personal ‘team’ that keep him going. Edna Ball thanked those who worked so hard for this event to come off without a hitch, including Susan Saxonberg, our dinner coordinator and Lee Stacy of Norm Reeves Honda for sponsoring the evening. Carol Walton reminded everyone to please read up on the latest research we fund by checking the Parkinson Alliance website. And lastly Steve Mackel gave some advice to Sunday’s marathoners and relay runners about running in the heat that was expected. It was a great evening!
Sunday morning saw the runners meet bright and early at Dodger Stadium or at the transition zone for the 2nd-leg relay runners. Although the course was hot in some parts, for the most part it was cooler than predicted and at the finish line in Santa Monica it was foggy and chilly. We set up our cheering area at Ocean and Alta but didn’t need the sun canopy at all. It was thrilling to see the elite runners whiz by as we waited for our own heroes. And it was exciting and gratifying to see our own approach the finish line as well.
And so we wrap up another year as an official charity of the marathon. So far we’ve raised over $67,000 and counting. This campaign will stay open until March 31st, so please continue to fundraise. Take a selfie of you and your medal and let everyone know what a great accomplishment this is. When you post on social media, remember to include @teamp4acure on twitter and Instagram.
There are too many people to thank individually for the success of the weekend. We do however want to single out Carol Walton and Terri Hamran of The Parkinson Alliance and Nessa Weinman as well for putting the long hours at the Expo.
Please continue to check our website at www.team-parkinson.org for the most up-to-date total number of donations. And please continue to spread the message of our mission to raise awareness of PD, to improve the quality of life of those living with PD through exercise and to raise funds for research!
All photos from our race weekend are now on our Shutterfly site, where you can download and print them. Check out photos from the 5K race, our Carbo Dinner, and Marathon day. Thanks again to everyone for sending us your snapshots!
Thanks for all your continued support!
by The Parkinson Alliance | Feb 10, 2016 | Team Parkinson
John and Edna Ball (front left)
Edna Ball of Team Parkinson, shares with us her connection with Parkinson’s disease and how important team fundraising efforts are for the future
Q: What’s your connection to Parkinson’s disease (PD)?
A: When I was a girl of just 11-years old, my mother was diagnosed with PD at the age of 48. This was in 1961 in Montreal, Canada. At the time there weren’t even any medications for the disease. That came a few years later and by then we had already moved to Los Angeles. My mother’s PD progression was fairly slow. Then in 1973 I married John, and just before our 10th anniversary in 1983, he was also diagnosed with PD, although he’d had symptoms that went undiagnosed for 12 years. My Mom lived with PD for 37-years, the last few proving to be very difficult for her, as well as for the family as we struggled to cope with her deterioration. She passed away at the age of 85 in 1998. And now 18 years later we’re still looking for a cure.
Q: How is it that you came to work for over 15 years now in the PD community to raise awareness and funds for research.
A: The fact that my Mom struggled so much with PD and that John might be facing a similar future, was disturbing. Then in 1999, through some people we knew in the PD community, the opportunity arose to enter the official charity program of the Los Angeles Marathon, a race that grew out of the 1984 Olympics held here in L.A. With the backing and support of The Parkinson Alliance, Team Parkinson was formed and was accepted as one of the official charities of the race. Our mission was to raise awareness, empower people with PD to improve the quality of their lives through exercise, and to raise funds for scientific research towards a cure. I certainly had a deep vested interest in making that last goal a reality. It may have been too late for my Mom, but there was still time to hopefully help John and so many others.
Q: Has Team Parkinson been able to fulfill its mission?
A: Absolutely! In the nearly 16 years since we started, we’ve most definitely raised awareness through our visibility at Expos, races, support groups and conferences. And we’ve also had so many people get inspired and excited to either walk or run in marathons, half-marathons and 5Ks. It’s been incredibly rewarding to know that we’ve helped contribute to better health and quality of life for so many. John himself has been the catalyst by having run 25 marathons, many half-marathons, 5 and 10Ks, and an ultra-marathon! As to the last drive of the mission statement, we’re extremely proud to have raised close to 3 million dollars for research.
Q: How much progress has there been in the field of research over all these years?
A: There has actually been quite a lot of progress and there is now more hope than ever before that we’re closer to the answer that is this puzzle called Parkinson’s. When John speaks at support groups now he tells new patients that they’re lucky to have been diagnosed now because there is so much active and innovative research going on globally that will impact PD significantly, either with a cure, a slowing of the progression of the disease, the ability to detect PD early on and the ability to improve delivery of drugs that will enhance quality of life. It’s an exciting time that demands our attention and our dollars.
Q: What do you mean by “demands our attention?”
A: I mean that it’s imperative that these research projects that show real promise for helping people with PD get significant funding so that the work can continue. There is no shortage of disease groups all vying for the same dollars from the National Institutes of Health. So it’s very important that we work really hard to find the money for Parkinson’s disease research to be adequately funded. Team Parkinson has been a great way to engage people in that drive for funding.
Q: How does Team Parkinson campaign for funds?
A: Right now our campaign is our participation in the LA Marathon events. So basically we ask those participating in the races to let all their family and friends know what they’re doing and how important it is for their futures. Running or walking in these events is not an easy task, but it shows the commitment of these participants to want to do something positive to ensure a better future for themselves and their children and grandchildren. In other, they want this disease gone, and they understand that research is the answer. So they raise money and do it passionately.
Q: Which race are you participating in on Valentine’s weekend?
A: Health permitting, I’m hoping to walk the 5K. And John will be running the first half of the 2-Person Charity Relay…that’s 13.1 miles! It takes a lot of training and it’s a lot of work, but we have such a clear understanding of how important this is and we try to convey that to our participants. And those walking or running with PD are truly inspiring and should be supported in their efforts.
Q: What do you love most about being part of this team?
A: I think what I love most is the spirit of these amazing people with PD taking on this challenge and taking it personally to show the world that they may have PD but it doesn’t have them. Some run, some walk slowly, some with walkers and some in wheelchairs pushed by loved ones. Not a year has gone by since our first race in 2000 that I don’t tear up at the finish line as I see people so bravely crossing that line to get their medals. It’s pretty inspiring!
Q: With the race just a week away why is a final fundraising push so important?
A: I like to think that the fundraising effort should match the training effort in intensity. Our PD participants should toot their own horns and let family and friends know how hard they’ve worked, how proud they are of this accomplishment and how important their fundraising effort is for the future.
Q: What fundraising tips can you give people?
A: The one I always start with is to let those people I ask for money feel and know that I’m giving them a great opportunity to do something really good and really important. And that’s very much the simple truth. I encourage people to ask everyone they know … family, friends, business associates, their own doctors, dentists, etc. They should stress that what they’re doing isn’t easy and they would love support through generous contributions.
Another fun way to ask for donations is to take selfies as they’re training and proudly show family and friends that they’re really out there putting in the miles. Send those photos through e-mail, Facebook or Twitter to make an impact. It takes a lot of work to do this and it takes a lot of money to continue the work of research.
Along the same line, it’s very cool to take a picture at the finish line proudly wearing your medal. That medal is affirmation of everything you’ve worked for to get to this point. And the fundraising you do, and the dollars you bring in for research, are also affirmation of the importance of your journey with PD. It’s a great idea to send those post-race photos out as a thank you to those that have contributed and as an additional push to those who have not yet done so. You should definitely be proud of yourself. So let others know that they too can express their pride through a generous donation to Team Parkinson.
To register/donate and learn more about Team Parkinson, please visit www.team-parkinson.org.
by The Parkinson Alliance | Jan 20, 2016 | Team Parkinson
By John Ball, Team Parkinson
Hi everyone! John Ball here with Team Parkinson and I’m getting ready to run in the 2016 Skechers Performance Los Angeles Marathon Race Weekend, which is just around the corner. If you’re a person living with Parkinson’s disease and prepping to run a race, like me, check out these timeless tips to help you get ready for your race.
Keep Your Goal In Sight:
With less than a month to go, I know that it’s time for me to shift up into the next gear and get ready for the 2-Person Charity Relay I’ll be running. Whether it is your first or 20th race; and regardless how far you plan to go, keep your goal front and center to help you stay motivated. As soon as one is accomplished—set the next one.
Establish a Routine:
The alarm clock goes off at 6am. I roll reluctantly out of bed and shuffle downstairs to take my first dose of Parkinson’s disease meds so I can get to the gym for my hour workout and then run the two miles home. This is my routine on Tuesdays. Then on Thursdays, after the gym session, I head over to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for another 3 or more mile run with our Team Parkinson training group. This group is training for the upcoming LA Big5K. This terrific group is testament to everything Team Parkinson has tried to accomplish over the years. On Sundays I wake just as early to meet my running buddies, Mark, Doug and Mimi to stretch out those miles. This weekend I’m aiming for 10 miles, so that I’m pretty close to the 13.1 I’ll have to run on Sunday, February 14th for my half of the Charity Relay Marathon.
Keep Remembering the Benefits of Running:
Yes, the race is on Valentine’s Day. So “love” is the theme. I’ll be honest and say that I no longer “love” long-distance running, but I do love that it has kept me in pretty good shape for a 71-year old who has had Parkinson’s disease for over 40 years. Exercise is an important part of daily life for everyone. And for people with Parkinson’s, it is even more important to managing Parkinson’s symptoms.
Run With Friends:
I love my running buddies. They keep me honest and won’t let me quit this good thing I’ve got going.
Be a Cheerleader to Others:
I love my family for continuing to encourage me and cheer me on. And I love that I can set a good example for others with Parkinson’s to embrace exercise as a way to help their quality of life.
You too can lace up those running shoes and join Team Parkinson on race weekend: February 13 & 14. Register with us!
John Ball has been a runner all his life. He has completed 25 solo marathons, one ultra-marathon, and several team efforts. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1983 at age thirty-nine. He has also authored his memoir “Living Well, Running Hard,” in which he narrates his story of how he has lived with Parkinson’s disease and how he has worked to create a better life for others struggling with difficult diagnoses and debilitating diseases.
