Last year, I wrote about how every day was different for Mom. Some days brought challenges, others brought little breakthroughs, but through it all, she kept moving forward with hope, optimism, and that incredible Irish spirit that was so uniquely Sandie.
This year feels very different.
Mom passed away in late July. And as we gather again with our New England family and friends for the 2026 APDA Rhode Island Optimism Walk, we’ll be missing her, but she will be in our hearts and with us every step of the way.
We’ll walk in her memory, carrying with us all the things she gave us: her strength, her courage, her resilience, her laughter, and so many wonderful memories. I know there will be moments when we wish she were right there beside us, strolling along as she did for so many years.
I'd like to thank everyone who has surrounded our family with so much love and support these past few months. Every message, card, phone call, kind word, memory shared, and gesture of love has meant more than you know. We are all incredibly grateful.
So, Team Sandie’s Strollers will be back at Warwick City Park this year. We may be walking without Mom, but we are most certainly walking with her spirit.
For Mom.
For her memory.
For everyone living with Parkinson’s and the families who walk beside them.
And for the hope that keeps us moving forward.
Come stroll with us.
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I hope you’ll consider supporting Team Sandie’s Strollers as we walk in Mom’s memory and in support of the whole Parkinson’s community. Your donation helps provide vital resources and support to those living with Parkinson’s and their families, while also advancing the scientific research we so desperately need to find better treatments and eventually a cure.
Every contribution, big or small, truly makes a difference. Thank you for your generosity, your support, and for helping us keep Mom’s spirit! Together, we can make a difference.