While I don ’ t have Parkinson ’ s disease myself , I decided to join PPMI because I want to help research any way that I can .
Section 01 — Caring for Your Brain at Any Age
Giving My All to Parkinson ’ s Research as I Get Older
Dennie Bridges , age 82 , retired basketball coach and author , Bloomington , Illinois
From coach to team member
I was a basketball coach for Illinois Wesleyan University for 32 years , and the athletic director for another 19 years . I retired when I was 76 years old , after 51 years . While I don ’ t have Parkinson ’ s disease myself , I have a number of high school and college classmates who have it .
One night , I happened to see an interview with Michael J . Fox on TV . I was really impressed with his passion and his story , how he tackled his situation head on . I decided to donate all the proceeds from a book I had published , about growing up in a small town , to The Michael J . Fox Foundation ( MJFF ).
While I don ’ t have Parkinson ’ s disease myself , I decided to join PPMI because I want to help research any way that I can .
Valuable information
Once I was connected to MJFF , I was inspired to get more involved . I read that they needed volunteers without Parkinson ’ s for the Parkinson ’ s Progression Markers Initiative ( PPMI ) study . I decided to join because , even though I don ’ t have any connection to Parkinson ’ s , I ’ m getting older and want to help research in any way that I can . I ’ ve been in PPMI now for the last nine years . At first , I went to Northwestern Hospital for testing every six months . But now I go once a year . I ’ ve had five or six spinal taps , had my blood taken and answered lots of questions .
All in
When it comes to research for Parkinson ’ s , I ’ m all in . The longer researchers can track your symptoms or non-symptoms , the better , and that ’ s why I ’ m sticking with my commitment . I gave my word .
16 The Michael J . Fox Foundation for Parkinson ’ s Research