Paddling For Parkinson's

[JoeForrester]

Please allow me to introduce myself,

I am a third year medical student at the University of Virginia and I have organized a fundraiser for the National Parkinson Foundation, Paddling for Parkinson’s.

In 2005 my grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This past year my grandfather’s brother died from complications due to Parkinson’s disease. Throughout my experience in medical school, I have seen firsthand the challenges that both patients and families deal with over Parkinson’s disease.

Beginning at the end of May in 2009, I will leave Three Forks, Montana on a 4,000 mile journey. I will be paddling my Current Designs Storm GT kayak “The Mary Agnes” solo down the Missouri River, to its junction with the Mississippi at St. Louis, and then continuing down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. I decided that a trip of this nature had the ability to not only be a fantastic personal journey, but also venue to show support for my grandfather and all people and families dealing with the effects of Parkinson’s disease. I decided to organize this trip as a fundraiser for the National Parkinson Foundation, a group dedicated to the recognition, treatment and care of people with Parkinson’s disease, people like my grandfather.

100% of all donations to the Paddling for Parkinson’s trip are going to the National Parkinson Foundation. I also have a blog that I will be updating in the months preceding my departure, and that my brother will be updating for me during my trip so that anyone interested can follow my progress. It is my hope that this trip will provide enough interest to raise $20,000 for the National Parkinson Foundation.
Please feel free to view and join my blog at http://paddlingforparkinsons.blogspot.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; You can set your self up to receive updates about my trip by becoming a “follower” of the blog, available on the lower right hand part of the website. My National Parkinson Donation Site is available at http://www.parkinson.org/NETCOMMUNITY/P ... 4&frsid=83" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and is also easily accessed through the blog.

Please feel free to pass this on to anyone whom you think might be interested in my trip.

Joe Forrester
UVa School of Medicine 2010
JDForrester84@hotmail.com
720-284-2317

[jboyd]

Joe, I just made a donation. I have multiple blogs, and I am creating a link on each one back to your donations link.

Also, I have an aweber mailing list that I will be sending to and will add your donation site and paddle blog as a personal project. My son was a Hydrocephalus baby and now is a neurologist at Northwestern in Chicago. Neuro-Sciences are close to our heart.

Again, great luck to you, and I am looking forward to buying you that BarBQ in Cape Girardeau, MO when you come through. I will be watching your progress.

Jay Boyd