Play for Parkinson’s - About

Play for Parkinson’s is our annual awareness and fundraising event in support of those of us touched by Parkinson’s Disease.

Together, we have raised more than $500,000 over the last six years towards Parkinson’s research and programs that give us hope, better treatments and better ways to live with Parkinson’s. 

Impact Made - Biomarker and Parkinson’s Players

Notably, your gifts have contributed to the biomarker discovery led by our beneficiary partner, the Michael J. Fox Foundation. The biomarker provides us more reliable diagnosis, opportunity for disease prevention and better targeted research towards disease modifying treatments and a cure.  See more about this in this video. 

Your gifts have also funded the program we call Parkinson’s Players done in partnership with Northwestern Medicine.  Parkinson’s Players brings those of us with Parkinson’s together each week in play-based exercise and friendship making - vital gifts for living better with Parkinson’s.   See more about this program by clicking here.

About Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's is the fastest growing neurodegenerative disease in America. Presently, over one million Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Those of us who have Parkinson’s live with life shaking disruption. Thank God, Parkinson’s is not a death sentence. Rather it's a chapter in our life story we can live well with - and even do good with - in community with others.

Adapting to play activities we enjoy is vital for easing symptoms and even slowing the progression of Parkinson’s. Playing golf at the Winnetka Golf Course and tennis at the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center with family and friends is especially meaningful for me. It’s the course and courts where I first learned to play these games with family and lifelong friends.

Making Your Gift

100% of your gift goes towards funding research for a cure and therapies for living better with Parkinson’s through our partner The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

This year, friend Mike Keiser has again made a generous lead gift of $50,000 which fully funds Parkinson’s Players for the next two years. Your gift, in whatever amount you choose, will help us raise an additional $100,000 for Parkinson’s research towards better therapies and a cure.  We are, and I am, grateful. You can make your gift by clicking here.

With gratitude,

Mike DeBartolo and our Parkinson’s Community