33. MY STORY PART #2

CELEBRATING A MILESTONE BIRTHDAY

I am conquering the 3 Volcano Challenge with Team Fox

I am really excited about joining the Michael J Fox Team of Endurance Athletes again this year. In honor of turning 70 in September, I have decided to celebrate by taking on a new challenge. It will be a trek in Guatemala that includes three impressive volcano ascents. An undoubted highlight is sleeping on the side of 13,000ft Acatenango Volcano as the lava erupts from Fuego Volcano right before us. We also visit the impressive caldera lake of Atitlan and tackle a summit of the impressive Atitlan Volcano. This is a day trekking journey, across a wide variety of climates, including higher altitudes, and challenging days. We will climb over 10,000 ft. elevation gain in just one week. There is one day where the climb will require a 5000 ft. elevation gain. It isn’t the challenge of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro but will test my endurance, nonetheless.

In 2017 I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. I learned early on the value of hard, vigorous exercise in delaying the progress of PD. Then in 2023 I became public about my diagnosis by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro with 8 other climbers. It was an ambitious effort and was really hard for sure. I didn’t know if I could ever do a trek like that again. But, It changed my life and has inspired many who have PD and even those who don’t. It has also been an avenue to spread awareness. So, I want another challenge. Some of the hikers who climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro will also be on this climb. It is our passion to fund research and end PD, that drives us.

More than 6 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s — the second most common neurological disorder. In the United States, approximately 90,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year alone with about 15% of those being individuals under the age of 50. I invite you to be a part of finding better treatments and eventually a cure by supporting my fundraising campaign. One hundred percent of all funds raised for this effort go directly to research. Together, we can make a difference and end this disease forever.

This is the link to my fundraising page –

https://give.michaeljfox.org/fundraiser/6315010