Focus on a Cure Foundation was founded and established by Ann & Ken Glowienke in early 2007 with the hopes of raising awareness, increasing education, providing support to patients and family members who live with Parkinson’s disease. One of the goals of the foundation is to raise funds through various activities to support our mission as well as to provide funding to critical research being conducted to find a cure or more effective treatments for Parkinson’s disease.
On November 12, 2004 following more than year of enduring various medications Ken was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease. Although the average age of diagnosed onset for Parkinson's disease is in the early 60s, approximately 10% of the 1.5 million people with the disease are thought to be below the age of 40[1]; Ken was 37 when his symptoms first appeared.
Shortly following the official diagnosis Ann took on the mission of gathering information on how this unwelcome intruder was going to impact their lives. Ken had just recently finished his bachelor’s degree and was beginning a new job and they also were moving into their first house at the end of the year. During her research Ann came across The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research web site. Michael had revealed in 1998 he was living with YOPD since 1991. The foundation that bears his name was founded in 2000 and was making great strides in bringing the needs of the Parkinson’s community to the world stage. In early 2005 during her research Ann noticed a small link on the Fox Foundations web site looking for people to join in a new venture they were to launch in late 2005 called Team Fox for Parkinson’s Research. This was to be and is today the grassroots community based fundraising arm of the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Team Fox members collectively contributed to date 3.5 million dollars for research related to Parkinson’s disease.
Ann signed up for this new venture as “Team Glowienke” thinking this would be a great way to get involved in fighting this unwelcome intruder and possibly a way for Ken to feel more in control of his future as it related to Parkinson’s disease. Unbeknownst to Ken, Ann began organizing the first annual “Team Glowienke” walk for Parkinson’s to benefit Team Fox. In early 2006 Ann finally let Ken in on her plans at which he was amazed on what she had accomplished but not surprised by the unconditional support and love in which it was done with.
• On May 20, 2006 Forty friends and family gathered at a small park in Carol Stream, IL and raised $3,600 for Team Fox.
• On May 19, 2007 in that same small park about 90-100 friends and family gathered for the second annual walk and raised just over $8,000.
It was at this point Ken and Ann realized they had raised interest in what they were doing and were inspired by the response of family, friends and people they had never met. It was at that moment the idea of beginning their own non-profit 501(c)(3) public charity so they could increase and enhance the excitement and involvement Ann had begun at that small park with Forty people,
In September 2007 the Focus on a Cure Foundation for Parkinson’s was officially established and plans began for the 2008 annual event.
• On Sunday May 18, 2008 Focus on a Cure held the first annual Picnic in the PARKinson’s at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, IL and welcomed over 360 people from five different states and Canada. Hosted by local US 99 on air radio personality Drew Walker the event raised over $20,000 for Parkinson’s!
Focus on a Cure still supports Team Fox but now has the ability to accomplish even more for the Parkinson’s community in addition to supporting Team Fox.
Focus on a Cure now looks to the future and how they will take their mission to inspire community involvement and raise awareness for Parkinson’s disease that will fund research to ultimately find a cure beyond the borders of their wildest dreams in hope of finding a cure a quickly as possible. We ask that you join Focus on a Cure Foundation for Parkinson’s in spreading awareness for People living with Parkinson’s and help raise the funds needed to reach this attainable goal of a cure in our lifetime.
As you consider being a part of this new patient led movement remember no matter how big or how many people join Focus on a Cure in their mission, at the heart of all of it still remains the unconditional love of a woman who just simply wanted to get involved in honor of and to support her husband who at the age of 43 is still living with Parkinson’s. They strongly believe they will see the day when their efforts hopefully in some small way contributed to a cure for this unwelcome intruder we know as Parkinson’s.
Please visit Focus on a Cure at www.focusonacure.com for more information on how you can be part of this patient led movement to help ourselves and each other along this journey.
[1.] Koller W, Hubble J. Young-onset Parkinson's disease. In: Johnson A, ed. Young Parkinson's Handbook.
Staten Island, NY: APDA Publications; 1995: 10-15.
Who I'd like to meet:
People with a passion and commitment to working with Focus on a Cure in our mission to inspire community involvement and raise awareness for Parkinson’s Disease, that will fund research to ultimately find a cure
Focus on a Cure for Parkinsons's Friend Space (Top 11)
Thank you Ken & Ann for all, another amazing, fun & successful event! All your hard work is proving to be greatly noticed. Already looking forward to next year's event. Keep believing & stay focused! Lots of luv to you both, Marjorie
Happy Birthday Ken... May sunny moments warm your heart Each hour all day through... May happy hours fill this day And make things nice for you. May your special day be the happiest ever! Love to you! Lois
Just want to say, Thank you for all you do. There truly are, Angels among us. I'm 49 years old with P.D. I was diagnossed about 5 years ago. My friends Gabrielle and Gaylund are part of your group also. Again, just wanted to say Thank you. Thank you with all my heart!!!! xoxoxoxoxo Glenda
What hope do we offer the nuclear race? And what do we do with the nuclear waste? We can’t bury it down, it can’t swim in the sea, So what do we do with this grim legacy? Well I’ll tell you the truth, and I’ll make it quite plain, We can’t shoot it in space, or let it wash down the drain. So we leave it behind for the kids yet to come, That bittersweet taste of the nuclear bomb. Well the kids of tomorrow have no words to say For the world we leave and the price they will pay. Caretakers are we and for what do we stand? For the love of the life on this sacred land. What hope for the child in this world of ill care Lies deep with the meek on a wing and a prayer, That these Gods will see reason for the land, sea, and air, And the hope in the future for the life that lives there. Caretakers are we, and for what do we stand? For the love of the life on this sacred land. What reason for money when you can’t breathe the air? And the oceans and lakes they lay barren and bare, And the streams and the rivers run sewerage and poison With no drink to spair, Caretakers are we, and for what do we stand? For the love of the life on this sacred land.
The ice caps are melting thers holes in the sky, we poison the earth for the sake of a lie, its time for the one and the all standing by to take hold of the reigns and put an end to this crime for we are the meek and now is our time,,,,caretakers are we and for what do we stand,, for the love of all life on this sacred land www. goodisplanetearth. org
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