A Cause to Fight For
So, my dad has Parkinson’s Disease (PD). He was diagnosed with it a few years ago. Around 2013-14, he started having some real difficulties…he would salivate excessively, have trouble speaking clearly at times, and was just finding it tougher to get around. For a long time he figured he was just getting old and those were the symptoms of it. But about 3 years later he was diagnosed with PD and began treatment. He showed immediate improvement.
But PD progresses as a chronic neurodegenerative disorder, and even with treatment he still has major physical difficulties to overcome, not to mention the untold mental toll PD takes on its victims. In January he fractured his skull when he sat at the edge of his bathtub to put his socks on, lost his balance and fell backward striking his head on the shower wall. Luckily he recovered from that injury, but it was a sign that he (and we, his family) would have to be extra cautious from here on out.
Around that time, I decided I was going to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) and enter the Tour De Fox, a fundraising 70 mile bicycle ride in Sonoma County’s wine country. This year the Tour De Fox is scheduled for the end of August. I registered in January. I was going to do my first fundraising push in March.
Then, we all know what happened. In the U.S., there was news, confusion, uncertainty…and at least when it came to purchases of sanitizer and toilet paper, panic. As with most people, my near term plans evaporated like rubbing alcohol. Still, August seemed so far off, there was no way COVID-19 was going to affect my Tour De Fox plans, right?
As things stand right now, maybe the Tour De Fox ride will happen, and maybe it won’t. Cycle Oregon has now cancelled all of its 2020 rides, including its September and October rides. Tour De Fox and MJFF are keeping their options open right now, but as time goes by it’s appearing less and less likely. August is only three months away now.
On top of all this, the global economy has tanked, to put it mildly. Hundreds of millions worldwide are out of work and in need. For a long time I struggled with whether to send out any kind of fundraising email to friends and family. People are worried about where their next meal is coming from; who was I to ask them to throw money at MJFF and PD research?
But, after some soul searching and some conversation with my wife, I decided to just go ahead and ask yesterday. So far, the resultant support has been overwhelmingly positive and heartwarming. Donations came pouring in right away, with lots of virtual hugs and encouragement. It makes me realize how blessed I am to have such good, caring people around me. And I’ve decided that, even if the Tour De Fox event gets cancelled due to COVID-19, I’m going to ride the 70.2 miles. Even if I have to do a “virtual Tour De Fox” around the wine country of Oregon (western Willamette Valley), I’m going to ride the ride. It won’t be the same as Sonoma County, but it’ll be pretty darn close. If the Tour De Fox goes ahead as planned, so much the better.
Times like these show me just how much (and whom) I should be grateful for.
Bike Newbie 