Team DPF Moments of Victory® – John Alexander Swam, Rode and Walked to Victory

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• The road ahead: 2020 January 5, 2020 Here at the SoPD, we are primarily interested in disease modification for Parkinson’s. While there is a great deal of interesting research exploring the causes of the condition, novel symptomatic therapies, and other aspects of Parkinson’s, my focus is generally on the science seeking to slow, stop or reverse the condition. At the start of each year, it is a…
• I have Parkinson’s and am experiencing X. Who should I see? February 10, 2020 We receive emails every day from people wondering who they should see for a wide variety of issues that often go hand-in-hand with Parkinson’s. Since it comes up often enough, we decided to create a guide that answers exactly that.    To put this piece together, we gathered up the 15 most frequently asked questions we’ve received from our community members…
• Davis Phinney Foundation Staff Fundraise to Help People Live Well with Parkinson’s April 9, 2020 We often hear from people who like the idea of fundraising but feel funny asking for money. We get it. We get it so much that we wrote a post a while back called, “I Hate Asking for Money (Even for a Cause).”  But, as our Team DPF Program Manager, Lauren “Peachy” Kehn, will tell you, just like training, the…
• Moments of Victory® – Parkinson Pete Embraces the Lessons of Parkinson’s August 24, 2020 Each month, we spotlight someone in our community who has an inspiring story to tell. Today, we are happy to feature Pete Beidler from Seattle, WA. What has your journey been like since your Parkinson’s diagnosis? In 2006, when I was sixty-six, I signed the papers signaling my intention to retire after forty years of teaching English at Lehigh University…
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• 2019: Year in review December 31, 2019   In this end-of-year post, we review the Parkinson’s research that caught our attention at SoPD HQ in 2019. Month-by-month we will briefly discuss some of the major pieces of research/announcements that have defined the year and advanced our understanding of Parkinson’s. The list is based on nothing more than the author’s personal opinion – apologies to any researchers who…
• Davis Phinney Foundation at the 2019 Parkinson’s Policy Forum September 30, 2019 The Parkinson’s Policy Forum is an annual educational and advocacy event in Washington, DC for people with Parkinson’s and care advocates. The 2019 forum, held September 9-10, brought together over 150 people from 38 states to participate in a day of education and training followed by a day of visiting 196 Congressional offices. Sara Linn, Ambassador Leadership Program Manager for…
• Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about eBikes for People with Parkinson’s… and More May 10, 2018 Biking has long been recommended for people with Parkinson’s. Regular time on the bike can improve gait, balance, flexibility, motor coordination and strength. Not to mention emotional well-being. Beyond that, physicians and physical therapists agree that regular exercise can improve memory and thinking and reduce the risk of falls in people with Parkinson’s. Which is why we’re so excited about…
• How to Encourage People with Parkinson’s to Exercise July 17, 2019 One of the most common questions we receive from friends and care partners of people with Parkinson’s is this:   “My person with Parkinson’s won’t do anything.  I can’t get them to exercise, and I don’t know what to do.”  With everything we know about exercise and Parkinson’s, it would seem that getting people to exercise would be easy. But it’s far from it.  Here are just…
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• Planet Patient vs Planet Researcher: From Both Sides, Now June 27, 2018 “I cannot always control what goes on outside. But I can always control what goes on inside.” Wayne Dyer “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” Voltaire Setting the Stage: This is Mariëtte Robijn-  She lives in the Netherlands and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the young age of 46.  Mariëtte has a dynamic and vibrant blog…
• Planet Patient vs Planet Researcher: From Both Sides, Now June 27, 2018 “I cannot always control what goes on outside. But I can always control what goes on inside.” Wayne Dyer “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” Voltaire Setting the Stage: This is Mariëtte Robijn-  She lives in the Netherlands and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the young age of 46.  Mariëtte has a dynamic and vibrant blog…
• Planet Patient vs Planet Researcher: From Both Sides, Now June 27, 2018 “I cannot always control what goes on outside. But I can always control what goes on inside.” Wayne Dyer “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” Voltaire Setting the Stage: This is Mariëtte Robijn-  She lives in the Netherlands and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the young age of 46.  Mariëtte has a dynamic and vibrant blog…
• Giving Back & Living Well with Parkinson’s April 2, 2020 “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Gandhi When we ask people in our community what they do to live well, the vast majority say that giving back is at the top of their list. Whether they give back by leading support groups, participating in clinical trials, educating themselves so they…
• 5 Ways to Live Well with Parkinson’s in 2019 January 8, 2019 It’s hard to ignore the feeling of newness in the air. The letting go of one year and welcoming in a new one and all of the possibilities it may provide. And, even if you’re not of fan of resolutions, you probably still have ideas of how you can live better in 2019. At the Davis Phinney Foundation, we certainly…
• My Parkinson's Life Style Eating Plan May 11, 2018 I’ve been on the Keto diet, as well as several other Paleo and plant-based diets in hopes they would help my Parkinson’s symptoms. When my wife and I decided to get serious with our eating life style again, we looked at our options and our focus turned back to doing the Dr. Wahl’s version of the Paleo diet which we…
• Core Strengthening Exercises for Parkinson’s Disease – Part 3 of 4 April 10, 2019 Written by Dr. Sarah King, PT, DPT You’re halfway through our Parkinson’s Core Strength Exercise Mini-Series! We’ve used the last two days to practice building flexibility and deep core strength. Today, the focus is on learning how to build strength in your abdominal, lumbar, and hip muscles. CORE STRENGTHENING EXERCISES FOR PARKINSON’S – PART 3 OF 4 Day 3 Focus: Abdominal, Lumbar…
• Life with Parkinson’s in the Time of COVID-19: April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month April 1, 2020 “The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.” Vince Lombardi “When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t.” Thomas Edison Précis: A different world exists today than it did just a few weeks ago, all driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus seemingly favors the elderly who have a pre-existing disease(s); however,…
• Facebook Fundraising FAQs July 14, 2018 Did you know that you can fundraise on Facebook?  Recently, we’ve had several people raise money for the Davis Phinney Foundation through Facebook, and their campaigns were a huge success. So, for those of you who have rides and other fundraising events coming up soon, and you haven’t tried it out yet, we’re going to give you the A to…
• 8 Reasons to Use Your Bike as a Tool for Good March 28, 2019 We often talk about the benefits that cycling has for people living with Parkinson’s, but what are the benefits we all share when we ride and fundraise for a cause we care about? Here are eight benefits that members of Team DPF have shared with us and why many of them—people with Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s care partners, friends, family members, Parkinson’s…