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For My Dad. Also, for Anyones Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister, Spouse, Child or Friend.
My dad has Parkinson's Disease, and he is the biggest role model of life and living that anyone could ever be blessed to meet! He inspires me with his phrase of, 'Why not?' When I asked him his thoughts of my getting into the sport of triathlon. He inspires me when I am tired and have to go to strength training after 2 hours of biking. You see, his strength training consists of working out with his physical therapist, and on his own, just to be able to get up from and lower himself down to an armless chair. And that is one of his main goals because he wants to get out, enjoy life, eat at a restuarant and get himself up and out of their chair's. Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the brain that causes slow and decreased movement, muscular rigidity, tremors and many other symptoms that greatly interfere with daily living. One day I went to see my dad after I had a difficult 12 mile run. My dad was trying to walk down the hallway, about 50 feet, and it took a few minutes! Do you know what he said? "Look at me, I am making progress!" My 12 miles was nothing. We are so blessed that we are able to wake-up every day, then tell our limbs what to do and they do it. Another time I went to see my dad, he was trying to put on his socks and shoes. Sounds simple right? He was at it for 9 minutes. He said, "This getting old stuff is tough." My God, yes it is and we don't even know it. I am doing the 'Escape to Miami' Olympic Distance Triathlon: .9 mile swim, 24.8 mile bike, 6.2 mile run on Sept 25, 2011. I am hoping to making it through the race! My dad is hoping to make it through every day without: dropping something that he cannot bend over to pick-up, falling backwards, a dizzy spell. Parkinson Disease is horrible and wrong and we all have to raise awarenes and hope for those who have it. If you have been blessed with meeting my dad or have a loved one with Parkinsons, please donate to my efforts of fundraising.