Why I’m Moving for 5KforJK
I’m participating in the 5KforJK Run/Walk supporting Changing Parkinson’s—and this year, it means more to me than ever.
In 2015, I started PDNextSteps with a simple but powerful vision: to create a place where individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s could come together, build community, stay active, and know they weren’t alone in their journey.
What started as a space to exercise and connect has grown into so much more. Every day, I get to see firsthand the strength, determination, friendships, and hope that come from people moving together and supporting one another.
Exercise and regular physical activity are among the most important tools we have to help manage Parkinson’s and may help slow the progression of the disease. That belief is at the heart of everything we do at PDNextSteps.
Today, I have the incredible opportunity to continue investing myself every day in a cause that is deeply personal to me and in a community that inspires me constantly.
Movement matters. Community matters. Hope matters.
And that’s why I’m moving.
Funds raised through 5KforJK help make programs like these possible:
PDNextSteps Gym — providing Parkinson’s-focused fitness, movement, connection, and a community that keeps people moving forward.
Changing Parkinson’s Wish Kits — created by people living with Parkinson’s, for people living with Parkinson’s, bringing comfort, connection, and hope.
The Secret Life of Parkinson’s Podcast — sharing real stories and experiences to educate, connect, and remind people they are never alone.
5KforJK is the signature fundraising event for Changing Parkinson’s, and every dollar raised helps us continue creating meaningful programs that help people living with Parkinson’s live their best lives through education, exercise, and community.
My goal is to raise $2,000, and I would be so grateful for your support.
Whether you make a donation, join me at the 5K, or simply share this page, you are helping us keep people moving and creating a stronger, more hopeful future for everyone affected by Parkinson’s.
Thank you for believing in this mission and for supporting a cause that I have dedicated so much of my life to.
Keep Moving! ❤️
Melissa
