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Fox Focus | Community
Team Fox Member Jessica Krauser Is Just Getting Started
By Kat Mehlhorn
In 2019 , when Jessica Krauser of Powell , Ohio , was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson ’ s disease at 37 , she felt relief . After years of experiencing symptoms and knowing something was off , she finally knew why .
Of course , hearing the diagnosis wasn ’ t easy . At the time , she was going strong in her career in pharmaceutical marketing consulting and had young twins . “ My husband took it hard at first because his mind started to go to the worst place ,” says Krauser . But she had done her research . “ I was scared , but not that scared . I knew that there were steps I could take to manage and slow my symptoms ,” she says .
She started medication and joined a local gym for people with Parkinson ’ s . Then COVID-19 hit , and she found herself burnt out , not prioritizing her health . In 2021 , she made the difficult decision to step back from her work for a while .
Not long after , she received a surprise that changed everything . “ Since my diagnosis , my friends were unsure how to help me because from the outside , I ’ m fine ,” says Krauser , “ but they know me best .” One night , she showed up to dinner and her friends were wearing shirts that read 5K for JK . They had created a 5K running event to benefit Team Fox , MJFF ’ s grassroots fundraising program , and scheduled it for that October .
The inaugural 5K for JK attracted more than 400 runners and raised $ 86,000 for Team Fox , plus another $ 10,000 for the local PD community . “ I want a cure in my lifetime , but I also support research for my kids and their generation ,” says Jessica .
More Ways to Walk toward a Cure : As this newsletter went to press , The Michael J . Fox Foundation and the Parkinson ’ s Alliance announced a transition of the Unity Walk , held annually in NYC ’ s Central Park . Learn more and follow along at
michaeljfox . org .