Community matters to Aaron and Bethany Parker of Nashville, Tennessee. When Bethany’s father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2016, the couple searched for a network that would help them understand the diagnosis and share their desire to see Parkinson’s eliminated. They found it in the Team Fox Young Professionals, a proactive group in their 20s and 30s who are committed to helping raise funds and awareness for Parkinson’s research.
“Getting connected to a community of people who were all walking through the same circumstance and the uncertainty around that was really meaningful,” Bethany says. “It was nice to know that we weren’t alone.”
As the Parkers became more involved with Team Fox, Bethany learned of an opportunity to run the Boston Marathon and fundraise on behalf of The Michael J. Fox Foundation. An avid runner, she said yes and got a spot in the 2020 event. When the pandemic and health reasons prevented Bethany from participating, Aaron took her place.
“Signing up to run such a prestigious race and having so many people saying, ‘I’m glad of what you’re doing because of my personal connection with Parkinson’s,’ added importance to what we were doing,” Aaron says. “We were there to accomplish a dream to run the Boston Marathon but also to raise awareness for people with Parkinson’s and support the search for a cure.”
The Parkers’ Boston Marathon participation raised $31,600 for the Foundation—and they didn’t stop there. The couple makes annual gifts and has also established a gift in their estate plan.
“A transformative gift is transformative for the donor,” Aaron says. “Helping a community we know and love is life changing for us.”
“Since my dad lives eight hours away, I’m not able to drop a meal by or go to a doctor’s appointment very easily,” Bethany adds. “Through annual giving and now a planned estate gift, I can make a difference in my dad’s life and in the lives of the 6 million others around the world living with Parkinson’s.”
Like the Parkers, you can make a difference to The Michael J. Foundation through a variety of gift options. Find out which option could be right for you by contacting The Michael J. Fox Foundation at 212-509-1524 or plannedgiving@michaeljfox.org.