Our Story

901 Parkinson’s Fighters was established as a non-profit in July 2019. Through various exercise classes (mainly Rock Steady Boxing at Trezevant Manor and Dance for Parkinson’s at Ballet Memphis), many of us with Parkinson’s had formed a bond of hope and wanted to share this hope with others who are fighting the disease.

In 2017 and 2018, the Rock Steady Boxing program at Trezevant Manor, under leadership of Rinnie Wood and Ginger Acuff, along with golfers Frank Navarra and Jack Moran, had successfully raised money in our fight against Parkinson’s with a golf tournament at Overton Park Golf Course.

With the combination of money and hope, we formed our Board of 8 which consists of four of us with Parkinson’s, two instructors of Parkinson’s classes, one spouse and one friend who keeps us on task as well as keeps our financial records.

So, you receive a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, what you “gonna” do? Each member of the Board of 8 has been there as a patient, a spouse or a friend. Most of us felt a need for information about the disease, information about physical activitis, and a group that offered hope.

We, the 901 Parkinson’s Fighter Board, thought we would offer information for living well with Parkinson’s Disease. We believe wholeheartedly in physical activity and the positive impact of fighting Parkinson’s together. We know that we have found “family” and real joy through movement programs designed to address the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s. These programs have done so much more.

With this thought process and our mentality of “Don’t Give Up," we created our mission and our vision…

901 Parkinson’s Fighters: Pat Canale, Judy Jenkins, Kathi Kores, Bunty Ethington, Ginger Acuff, Bob Kores, Kristen Lucas, Jim McLaughlin