The Fox Focus Spring/Summer 2019 | Page 18

Community The New England Parkinson's Ride Reached a $1M Fundraising Milestone in 2018 by KAT MCCARRICK Edna Woods, Chris Woods, Cindy Woods Theberge and the late Robert Woods Sr. celebrate after Chris finishes the 100- mile ride. The New England Parkinson's Ride has raised more than $4.5 million for Parkinson's research in its 11-year history. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TEAM FOX HISTORY, a single-day event raised $1 million — and then some! “It was unbelievably poignant for us to hit $1 million the year that my father, our co-founder (pictured above), passed. What he wanted most in life was a cure for Parkinson’s,” says Cindy Woods Theberge, executive director of the New England Parkinson’s Ride. Cindy recalls the feeling of needing to do something when her brother Chris was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 41. Their mother, Edna Woods, resolved to take action on behalf of her son, an avid cyclist. “Get out of the way of a mother with a sick child, no matter the age,” says Cindy. With Edna at the helm, the Woods family founded the New England Parkinson’s Ride in Old Orchard Beach, Maine in 2008. “We didn’t go in with an idea of how it’s supposed to be done. If you do it with the right heart and spirit, people are going to embrace it and allow you to embrace them,” says Cindy. The New England Parkinson’s Ride started with 35 riders and raised $27,000. Over the years, one challenge was in retaining teams after the loss of a loved one with Parkinson’s. “I started reaching out to those people to say, do it for your kids, your grandkids, for everyone else here,” says Edna. Today, Cindy says, “People coming back to honor family members is a big part of who we are.” Now operating as a 501(c)3, the Ride has raised over $4.5 million for The Michael J. Fox Foundation and in 2018 alone, attracted nearly 1,100 cyclists. So, what’s next for the New England Parkinson’s Ride? “All we see is a cure. The Ride will end a year later, because we are going to have one big party!” says Cindy. For more on the evolution of the New England Parkinson’s Ride, visit michaeljfox.org/NEPR. 18 The Fox Focus