THE FOX FOCUS...
SHIFTING GEARS TO SPEED A CURE
BY KAT MCCARRICK
Team Fox is the community fundraising arm of The Michael J. Fox
Foundation. Meet some of the dynamic grassroots fundraisers
committed to curing Parkinson’s and learn how you can get involved.
What does it take to host a popular Team
Fox event, build a community resource
for patients and families and jump-start a
cycling fundraiser? Just ask seasoned fundraising veteran and MJFF Patient Council member Karen Jaffe. Since launching
Shaking with Laughter, a Cleveland-based
fundraiser, in 2011, Karen and her husband Marc have raised nearly $750,000
for PD research. Their fifth comedy show
and gala will take place Saturday, August
27, in Cleveland. Karen credits much of
her and Marc’s success to a sincere, consistent “message of hope that has really
resonated with people.”
She also connects her community with
vital resources, reminding them that
hosting an event isn’t the only way to be
involved. This includes helping found
InMotion, a fitness and wellness center
for those affected by PD and other movement disorders. And after this summer’s
gala, Karen will transition her Team Fox
efforts to the Tour de Fox Series —
cycling events that follow up to last year’s
14,000-mile, $2.5-million campaign by
MJFF ultra-athlete and staffer Sam Fox.
The bike ride Karen organized as part of
the original Tour has been secured as a
returning stop.
On top of it all, she continues to motivate others to join Team Fox, saying, “I’ve
seen its ability to bring people under the
umbrella, into the conversation and to
make them feel empowered.”
Top: Karen Jaffe (second from left), her husband Marc, and
their daughters Alena, Jana and Sarah (left to right).
Bottom: Marc and Karen at Shaking with Laughter.
CYCLE TO SUPPORT PARKINSON’S RESEARCH.
Starting this summer, join us for rides in
the Great Lakes, California Wine Country
and Pacific Northwest.
To learn more, visit tourdefox.org.
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