Please join Lion Leaders to Put the Brakes on Parkinsons Disease!

Our Founder, Josie Fritsch, and the Fritsch Family have partnered with Team Fox of the Michael J. Fox Foundation to aggressively fight Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Josie's father, Jerry, has PD as well as his father before him. PD is a degenerative, neurological disease that starts with tremors and ends with physically incapacitation and death. There is no cure. Over 5 million people have it; 60,000 will be diagnosed this year in the U.S. alone.

What is the fundraiser? The family has always loved cars – vintage, sports or other. Not surprisingly, it chose to enter the legendary Cannonball One Lap of America Race, a grueling 8 day auto race that covers half the country. Josie will be driving the family’s hotrod, nicknamed “PD Killer.” It is a one-of-a-kind car built on a 1993 Ford Police Interceptor chassis with a growling 4.6 liter, V8 engine. Three generations of the family built the car.

Please consider making a donation of $25, $50, or more to our "Put the Brakes on Parkinsons" campaign. Donations are tax-deductible.

How you can help:

To donate online: Click on the link, http://www.teamfox.org/siteapps/teampage/

To donate by check: Make checks payable to: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Mail your checks to:
Ms. Andee Vandenberg
1451 Hawks Nest Ct.
Herndon, VA 20170.

Follow the journey! Check Facebook and Twitter to keep abreast of the family preparations and news about PD. During the race, Josie will be tweeting away, so that everyone can participate.

In Jerry’s words:

Thank you for your support. I have been living with PD for 9 years. At first the disease seems tolerable. You learn to live with the initial tremors, the most obvious symptom of Parkinsons. You adjust to your ungainly gait and the fact that you struggle to button or zip your clothes. You smile with your eyes because your facial muscles are frozen. As your voice fades, most people are kind and lean forward to hear you. You believe your words still count. As the disease progresses, you frequently lose your balance and fall. You know you’re falling, but you are too stiff to catch yourself. For me, the ensuing dementia is the worst. I doubt myself and my ability to reason. It is unspoken, but we all know there will be a time when I can no longer manage my most basic needs. I’m saddened that my family, especially my beautiful wife, has to share this nightmare with me. However, I am also supremely blessed. My family is with me every shaky step of the way. We don’t dwell on the disease; we focus on living each day as fully as possible. Thank you for your support. Thank you for trying to save others from this horrific disease.

Interesting Links:

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Put-the-Brakes-on-Parkinsons/159309180778742
Twitter: www.twitter.com/josiefritsch
Team Fox: www.teamfox.org
Cannonball One Lap of America: www.onelapofamerica.com
Michael J. Fox Foundation: www.michaeljfox.org