MCM Race Against Parkinson's

There are many reasons I am still running the Marine Corp Marathon , despite the cancelations, tough training environment due to covid, and the fact that 26.2 miles is 13 times farther than I had ever ran 2 years ago. The main reason, is because the spirit of the race and the Marine Corp is resilience. My grandfather, James Brennan, served the Marine Reserves for many years, and I have two very close friends--Jack Martus and Jimmy Longest--serving this country as Marines presently. They all embody the spirit of resilience, and have chosen to stand up when faced with adversity. In honor of them, I will stand up. 2020 has not been an easy year for any of us, as we face social isolation, intensely polarizing social and political injustices, and loosing many great heroes in our society. This year has been especially difficult for my family and me, as my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's at the beginning of the year. Currently, it is in mild stages, impacting only some of his motor skills, but the daunting potential of this disease, has left a shadow sometimes hard to escape. However, my dad, Bill, has not shown any sign of wavering. He has begun physical therapy and medication to keep symptoms at bay, all with a smile on his face and clear hope in his heart. In the face of this misfortune, I look to embody the spirit of the marines, the spirit of my father, and with the help of my community, I choose to stand up. I choose to not give up. I choose to put one foot in front of the other, until this race is complete. Can you please choose to support me?

More information about The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research: The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today. We believe without fail that our goal is within reach - but we can't get there without your support. Please join the fight today.