John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2010 at the age of 59. Following his diagnosis, John took up cycling and has since ridden more than 3,000 miles in the past several years, in addition to climbing a mountain in Scotland and completing two triathlons. John and his son Brian rode the last day of Ride with Larry in 2011, a transformative experience that introduced John to the team behind the documentary film of the same name as well as the Davis Phinney Foundation.
John sees Parkinson’s as “both a blessing and a calling.” He explains, “Parkinson’s is a blessing because it has allowed me to meet the most inspirational and amazing people, which in turn has caused me to accept and deal with this condition in a positive, optimistic way.” A natural connector, John enjoys building relationships while providing the Parkinson’s community with resources to “lighten their burden and bring them joy,” believing that the Davis Phinney Foundation’s philosophy “gives people hope and skills to cope with this condition like no other group.” John has written a book about his Parkinson’s experience entitled, The Journey Begins With 1,000 Miles – Thriving with Parkinson’s Disease Through Hope, Optimism, and Perseverance. In it, he shares how staying active, seeking inspiration from others, and serving as an advocate have helped him to live with Parkinson’s.