The funds raised through our Michigan Parkinson Foundation Hero Walk are essential in helping ensure that people with Parkinson’s disease across Michigan — and their families — have access to quality care, support, and hope.

The need continues to grow. MPF’s respite care program has expanded dramatically, from providing $10,000 in support to families in 2018 to more than $283,000 in support in 2024. That represents 13,885 hours of respite care for 176 families. In addition, more than 13,500 individuals participated in MPF exercise classes, and 2,116 people were served through educational programs across the state.

Most importantly, with the support of generous people like you, MPF has been able to say “yes” to everyone who has needed help.

One of MPF’s key priorities is reaching underserved communities throughout Michigan. This past winter, I was introduced to one part of that challenge firsthand.

On a snowy drive to Ann Arbor for an appointment with my Movement Disorder Specialist, I found myself quietly grumbling that there wasn’t an MDS office somewhere closer to the Downriver area. Then, while sitting in the waiting room, I noticed an elderly woman with an infectious smile. We eventually struck up a conversation, and she told me about her drive from Escanaba — more than 600 miles round-trip — which she makes twice a year to see the same specialist I see.

That conversation opened my eyes.

There are many people with Parkinson’s, along with their care partners, who live hundreds of miles from specialized PD care. MPF recognized this need and, in recent years, created a program to encourage medical students and neurologists to consider specializing in Movement Disorders. That effort is already beginning to pay dividends, with several new and soon-to-be Movement Disorder Specialists entering the field.

The challenge remains significant. Parkinson’s is growing faster than the number of specialists available to treat it, so this issue will not disappear overnight. But MPF is committed to making progress, and your donation can help reach people living in communities far from specialized care.

Another underserved community includes those facing economic barriers. They may not be geographically far from care, but they often lack access to quality healthcare in general — and quality Parkinson’s care specifically. My heart goes out to those who do not have the means or opportunity to be seen by a Movement Disorder Specialist. Too often, people remain undiagnosed or undertreated, which can lead to more difficult and more severe symptoms in their later years.

I often think about how different my own life might be without access to treatments like DBS surgery, the Vyalev pump, or even basic medications such as Sinemet. Quality care can make a tremendous difference.

Thank you for your continued support,

Steve & Rose Femminineo