Parkinson’s Players
Parkinson’s Players - Touching Lives Now
Living with Parkinson’s for fourteen years now and knowing scores of friends who have Parkinson’s in various stages, we know how important exercise and friendships are in living with the disease. In that light, Parkinson’s Players began as an idea during a sleepless night to provide people with Parkinson’s play based weekly instructional activities free of charge.
Parkinson’s Players embraces the knowledge that exercise is one of the few things known by many of us to slow the progression of Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s Players is inspired by the joy we experience playing together in friendship and seeing how good that is for those of us touched by Parkinson’s.
100 Players and Growing
Launched in the Chicago area two summers ago in partnership with Northwestern Medicine, Parkinson’s Players is already enjoyed by over 100 registered players and growing. Parkinson’s Players offers those of us with Parkinson’s a weekly instructional series of three activities - golf, cardio tennis and ping pong - to choose from and play with others at any of four locations in the Chicago area. The joy, smiles and laughter players experience together each week and friendships made are heartwarming to see.
Program Partner - Northwestern Medicine
Northwestern Medicine Parkinson’s Center is the ideal program partner for launching and growing Parkinson’s Players in the Chicago area. Northwestern Medicine’s credibility and reputation among our Parkinson’s community for experienced, compassionate program leadership in Linda Egan and others is well known. NM’s health and fitness programming for those of us with Parkinson’s is robust yet had been without play based activities like these offered by Parkinson’s Players which participants have been asking for. NM has the infrastructure to identify, promote to and register participants. Plus, Northwestern’s research leadership in studying the importance of exercise and Parkinson’s presents opportunity for learning insights from program participants.
Teaching Partners - Instructors Who Care
Our Parkinson’s Players instructors are caring professionals who appreciate the unique coordination challenges those of us with Parkinson’s often face. Each are upbeat teachers who make group instruction fun. Each appreciate the resolve and can-do spirit characteristic of those of us with Parkinson’s.
Funding – Free for all Parkinson’s Player Participants
Parkinson’s Players is made available entirely free for all Parkinson’s Player participants. Funding is provided by generous individual donor gifts received through our annual Parkinson’s awareness and fundraiser.
Expanding in Other Local Communities
Mike and Linda are readily available to share guidance with like-hearted people who have Parkinson’s and caring professionals who serve people with Parkinson’s about starting Parkinson’s Players in your local community. Feel free to contact us for insights and inspiration. Our guidance is free to all.
Mike DeBartolo, mikedebar@me.com, 914-907-0552
Linda Egan, Linda.Egan@nm.org, 847-535-8244
Parkinson’s Players – Joy, Friendship and Hope
While Parkinson’s can take away many precious things from those of us touched by the disease including our coordination, energy, and cognitive abilities, Parkinson’s Players offers us two gifts vital for our well-being: playtime and friendship.
Parkinson’s Players Schedule of Activities
Golf
Winnetka Golf Course
Wednesdays
1pm to 2pm
Tennis
Winnetka, A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center
Wednesdays
2pm to 3pm
Tennis
Chicago, Diversey Park Tennis
Tuesdays
4 to 5pm
Golf
Chicago, Diversey Driving Range
Tuesdays
5 to 6pm
Ping Pong
Lake Forest, Northwestern Medicine Fitness Center
Tuesdays and Thursdays
1:30pm to 3:30pm
Ping Pong
Chicago, Edgewater Fitness Center
Saturdays
11:15am to 12:45pm
To learn more about and register for Parkinson’s Players, please contact co-founders:
Linda Egan, PT
Parkinson’s Program Coordinator
Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital
Linda.Egan@nm.org
847-535-8244
Mike DeBartolo
mikedebar@me.com
914-907-0552
NBC Chicago Nightly News - Parkinson’s Players Play Ping Pong
