PFP: How did Power for Parkinson’s come into your life and why did you decide to be a monthly donor? 

Judy Powell: I’ve had Parkinson’s for about three and half years now. When I was diagnosed, the doctor had some pamphlets in his office. I picked one up and went home and read about this program and I just felt this would be effective.

I realized that a program like this takes money. You’re not charged a fee to come and get this exercise and information. There was an option of making monthly donations and that appealed to me. I just thought “I want to support this. This is important to my life and all these people’s lives.”

PFP: Has exercise always been a part of your life?

Judy Powell: Oh yes. I ran marathons, I raced bikes, I climbed mountains when we lived in Oregon. I climbed Mount Shasta and a group of us even slept up there. So I’ve been very active.

PFP: What do you like about the group exercise aspect of PFP?

Judy Powell: I enjoy the community and I think it’s really important to all of us. We’re a social animal, we need our community. As soon as you come in to Power for Parkinson’s and start interacting, you’re part of the community. Then our support groups are a part of that too. I often come out of there thinking “I’m glad I didn’t miss this one,” because information comes out that you don’t know and you might not find out if you miss the support group. 

Having Parkinson’s shocks you – you’re living your life and then suddenly everything’s changing. So it’s nice to be with others who are all trying to do our best. I believe exercise is so important to Parkinson’s. On the days I have to do something and I can’t exercise, I can tell the difference.

So I want to support all that. And that’s why I make a monthly donation and then anytime we’re doing a holiday thing, I try to make another donation specific to that.

My father was only 50 when he began to experience the physical symptoms associated with Parkinson’s. He had been a family doctor in a rural community in Northern Michigan before becoming a VP at the National Association of Community Health Centers, based in Washington DC. His journey over the last two decades has also been a journey for our entire family – and one that inspires and informs the work I do today. I’ve been inspired by the dedication he’s put into managing his condition, including exercising over an hour a day.

So when I was back home last month, I asked my dad to sit down with me for an interview. Typically, he was profound and filled with emotion as he discussed being diagnosed with PD, what he does to manage it, the importance of being socially engaged, and why he donates to PFP. You can watch the full nine minute conversation here and I’ve excerpted a few passages below.

PFP: What if you had never made any commitment to exercise or movement? If you’d just said “This is a drag. I’m going to take it easy,” where do you think you’d be today?

Tom Curtin: Honestly and bluntly, I think I’d be dead. I mean, I’ve had it for 20 years and there have been opportunities I could have quit. It’s not easy. It’s chronic, it’s work. People say you get depressed. I don’t get depressed – I get pissed off. I get angry, but that doesn’t help me. What helps me is to say “I’m pissed off and I’m angry – why?” then I work at it and try to eliminate that. And then put on the other facies – not the facies of Parkinson’s disease, but the one of health and vibrancy and being involved and caring. 

PFP: You’re a monthly donor to Power For Parkinson’s. Why is that important to you?

Tom Curtin: Well, first of all, I’ve been fortunate in my life that I have the ability to make those kind of donations. Strategically, for me, I like to give monthly money because that’s something the organization can count on and build around, but I don’t want to give them all the money on a monthly basis because then when they come up with a campaign, maybe one with matching money, I want to have money to give in to that. So I look at organizations I want to donate to, I give them base funding, and then have the ability to act when they say they need assistance.

PFP: Is there anything else about Parkinson’s that you want to share?

Tom Curtin: I mentioned the depression issue before. Some people can take all of the things and they internalize it and they do get depressed. People can help them out of that by reaching out to them and engaging them. As simple a thing as a salad, I watch my friend try to eat it and cut it. It’s a mess. He has a bad tremor – I don’t. I say “Can I cut that up?” he says “Sure!” I cut it up and he can eat, using a spoon on a salad, but he can eat it. It’s just the little things. Just make it normal. You’re helping a friend. Not a diseased friend, but just helping a friend.