Second Annual PRO on the Move Walk

Our Second Annual PRO on the Move ‘Walk, Ride, and Roll’ was a fun-filled day! Over 80 participants from six teams across the country—and even in the Bahamas!—competed to raise awareness and raise money as part of our Parkinson’s Awareness Month activity blitz. 

The idea for PRO on the Move came about when Barbara Kelly (Team PDG Strong) approached PRO about putting on a walk in honor of her late brother, Bill, who lived with Parkinson’s for 20 years. The event has grown to include golfers, walkers, outdoor exercise classes, and creative group endeavors to promote movement and celebrate those caring for or living with Parkinson’s. 

Board member Matthew Lu (Team Walnut Walkers) chose to bring his team to Mt. San Antonio College, where they visited several Earth Day events, including a wildlife sanctuary tour. “It seemed like everywhere we went, people were asking about the cause we represented.”  

Jen Walton (Team The Grove Walks for Parkinson’s) joined the walk “for my great aunt Maybelle.” Even better, she works at a local middle school and got her students to create handmade signs encouraging the walkers along their route! 

PRO Wellness Villager Jonathan Rose led an exercise class in Los Angeles, teaching participants about Parkinson’s-friendly exercises they can do in the safety of their own homes – even from a couch or chair while watching TV!

Another Wellness Villager, Home Instead Senior Care, put together their own walk team at Civic Center Park in Palm Desert. It was an enthusiastic group and included our youngest walker, at just seven years old! 

The entire day was a beautiful display of community and solidarity – it sparked dozens of conversations with community members who have their own connections to Parkinson’s, introduced us to new constituents who can benefit from our free services for people with Parkinson’s and caregivers, AND we smashed our fundraising goal of $15,000! 

A special thanks to our walk sponsors – Renova Energy, Abbott, Always Best Care Senior Services, Aflac, Charles Schwab, Vibra Rehabilitation Hospital of Rancho Mirage, Pacific Western Bank, Landon HR Consulting, Home Instead Senior Care, Boston Scientific, Bill Oberholtzer, Barbara Black, and Robert Peacock. And a huge thanks to our team captains – Barbara Kelly, Bob Koch, Matthew Lu, Michael Opell & Neil Friedman, Karen Fifer Ferry, and Rob Costello.