Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. On October 19, 2008 I will be walking with the PD Walkers Team at the IMT Des Moines Marathon. Our team is walking and fundraising to support the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) in their goal to "Ease the Burden and Find a Cure". I hope my efforts will encourage, inspire and challenge others with the diagnosis to set their goals high.

When I was 30 years old (11 years ago) my doctor referred me to a neurologist who diagnosed me with an Essential Tremor. Two years later I was given the diagnosis of Young Onset Parkinson's Disease. Incidence of PD tends to increase with age, but an estimated 15% of people with PD are diagnosed before the age of 50. When I was first diagnosed, my thoughts were, "They can say I have PD, but I will beat it and I won't have it very long." Well, eleven years later, I still have PD and although I now realize I will have PD for a long time, I still have to think I can beat it. This is why I am walking.

One of my biggest challenges of PD is not always the PD symptoms, but the side effects from the PD medications. Since there is not one drug that treats all the symptoms effectively, PWP (people with Parkinsons) are constantly trying to treat the most debilitating symptom with the medicine that causes the least debilitating side effects. Thanks to you and other supporters, APDA is able to help support research for new drugs and hopefully, one day, a Cure. They are also able to provide patient support, education and raise public awareness. Please join me in my walk or come and cheer for us on October 19th.

Thank you so much for your support!! Live, love and laugh, LaDona