COVINGTON, LA – The eighth annual Kickin’ Parkinson’s fundraiser, a premiere fundraising event in the area, will feature live music from Bag of Donuts, open bars and food from more than 25 local restaurants, live and silent auctions and special guests from the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF).
This year’s Kickin’ Party takes place Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Stone Creek Club and Spa, 1201 Ochsner Blvd., in Covington, from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased here.
This event will be preceded by “Boots and Bubbles,” a sponsor reception starting at 6:00 p.m. All proceeds benefit Parkinson’s research done by MJFF.
Kickin’ Parkinson’s is committed to raising awareness and finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease, organizers said. More than 50,000 people in the U.S. alone are diagnosed with Parkinson’s annually, they said.
On Friday, Oct. 20, from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., the public is invited to attend a Parkinson’s Research Roundtable, sponsored by the Crescent Pilot’s Foundation, at the Southern Hotel, 428 E. Boston St., in Covington. The meeting will consist of an in-depth discussion that will cover the latest information on medical breakthroughs and other topics that are important to patients and families of those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Participants will include Liz Diemer, director of Team Fox; Rachel Dolhun, MD, vice president of medical communications; and Terina Martinez, PhD, senior associate director of research programs. There will also be a Q&A session for the audience to submit questions to the expert panel.
“Parkinson’s disease has directly affected members of the river pilot community and so many other people that we know, including myself,” said Captain Douglas Grubbs, a Parkinson’s patient and retired pilot of the Crescent Pilot’s Foundation. “We are so pleased to join the founders of Kickin’ Parkinson’s in bringing to Covington members of the national research and science team for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. This is a rare opportunity for Parkinson’s patients and their caretakers to have members of the world’s most preeminent research team in face to face conversation.”
In 2016, Kickin’ Parkinson’s local Team Fox in support of MJFF was recognized as the first Team Fox out of 1,500 in the nation to raise more than $1,000,000 in three years. Last year alone it raised more than $388,000, 100 percent of which has gone directly to MJFF’s high-impact programs to speed a cure for Parkinson’s disease. Kickin’ Parkinson’s also earned recognition as one of the top five Team Fox fundraisers in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
“What started in 2009 as a 5k Race and Family Fun Run has developed into one of the premiere fundraising event in our community,” said Quentin Dastugue, co-founder of Kickin’ Parkinson’s who has been living with Parkinson’s since 2009. “We are so thankful for all the support we have received. Last year we had over 700 people attend the Kickin’ Parkinson’s fundraiser, where we raised over $388,000 for Parkinson’s research. We want to build on that momentum this year. Fundraisers like this are key to raising awareness and making advancements that are changing the lives of so many who have Parkinson’s disease. Please join us at this year’s fundraiser to help continue the success.”
