Welcome to my fundraising page! This walk, named after our friend JK (Jessica Krauser) who was diagnosed when she was just 37.  Our program has

• A podcast (The Secret Life of Parkinson's) viewed on every continent but Antarctica, with guests and doctor's from around the world
• A variety of fun social events for the People with Parkinson's and their families
• Many and varied exercise programs (including strength training, a voice training choir, yoga, stretching, and more)
• caregiver meetings
• informational sessions by doctors, therapists, senior housing folks and others
• a Parkinson's Kit shoe box containing $100 of items for use by PD patients and booklets for the patient, caregiver and children.  It was assembled and written by us all out of experience. The boxes are given to local neurologists for newly diagnosed persons, and mailed to anyone at their request and residing in the US, free of charge. 
   

     Founded by Melissa Carlson solely as exercise classes in 2013, (since exercise slows the disease progression), the PdNextSteps program, thanks to interested and active members, has expanded and is exploding with ideas. Gary joined  in 2014.  It is our support, our community of friends and helpers, and always reaching out to other PD persons.  One year we raised  over $100K for Michael J Fox Foundation.  
     I am not a person who likes to ask for donations, nor is Gary.  But I am so excited by what Changing Parkinson's is doing that for the first time in my life, I am doing just that.  Humbly requesting donations. 
    Please consider donating to my fundraising page and sharing this page with your family and friends. Any amount will be accepted with gratitude. Every dollar raised will advance the 5KforJK'.desire to positively impact people with Parkinson's life and that of their loved ones.  I know what a blessing it is to Gary and I and the incredible things that are in the works.
    If you are interested in participating in the walk/run and joining Gary and I (for as far as we can go!) you can click here to register for the event.  The  5KforJK 5th annual walk/run will be held again at Olentangy Liberty Middle School Track at Liberty Middle School in Powell, OH on Sunday, September 14, 2025. 



The 5KforJK is an annual fundraising campaign by Changing Parkinson's, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that seeks to equip and empower individuals to make a difference in their own lives and in the Parkinson’s community. Learn more at www.ChangingParkinsons.org.