Moments of Victory® – Lorraine Wilson brings Pickleball to Team DPF®

LW-Team-DPF

Each month, we spotlight an inspiring story from someone in our Team DPF® community who is helping to improve the quality of life of people living with Parkinson’s by raising funds. Today, we are happy to feature Lorraine Wilson. She recently organized a fundraising event featuring a pickleball tournament and resource fair in Abilene, TX. 

WHICH EVENT DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN? 

The John C. Stevens Pickleball for Parkinson’s Tournament & Resource Fair in Abilene, TX, went beyond our expectations. The pickleball player list exceeded our original number. We received more items to sell in the silent auction than we planned, which meant more fundraising potential! The resource fair featured a great variety of businesses that were excited to be there and mingle with our Parkinson's community.

That is all good, but there is more.

We scheduled the event for the last weekend of April, Parkinson's Awareness Month. Raising awareness brings in more people who want to help. Bringing in more people to help sets the stage for us to offer more educational activities. Each activity that involves persons with Parkinson's helps them live well today, and emphasizing that we can live well each day, even with Parkinson's, motivates folks to participate or help plan even more events like this. It's an important reminder that everything that helps us rise above the negative side of Parkinson's leads us to claim "every victory counts!" We had two television stations, one publication, and one radio outlet feature the event and share general information about Parkinson's.

2023 John C. Stevens Pickleball for Parkinson's champions!

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO JOIN TEAM DPF?  

I love the fact that Team DPF offers a variety of ways for people to help fundraise.

I may no longer be able to ride my bike long distances or run marathons to raise funds, but I can fundraise by helping our community action committee organize events like this pickleball tournament. I can collect items for a silent auction. I can also gather people at a social event that features live music as a backdrop to engage in conversation about local resources and living well with Parkinson's. If you can dream it, you can do it, and the Team DPF staff members help you each step of the way.

WHAT Is YOUR BEST MEMORY From YouR TEAM DPF Event?

My favorite memory from our Pickleball for Parkinson’s tournament was the opening serve by Dr. Joyce M. Curtis. She brought the game to Abilene in the 1980s and still plays to this day while in her 80s!

Dr. Joyce Curtis prepares to serve.

WHAT challenges did you face while fundraising?

My constant challenge is trying not to wear out my welcome among donors.

what three actions helped you most?

The top three actions that consistently help me work toward my fundraising goals are 1) emailing my contact list (or most of it), 2) talking to potential donors about the event and the Davis Phinney Foundation, and 3) utilizing social media.

What advice or encouragement would you offer to someone interested in Fundraising for the Davis Phinney Foundation?

My advice to anyone interested in fundraising for the Davis Phinney Foundation is to think of fundraising as an opportunity for your family, friends, and associates to help persons with Parkinson's live well today.

DO YOU HAVE A TEAM DPF OR FUNDRAISING STORY YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?  

Your story, like Lorraine’s, could be featured on our blog and Facebook page so others can learn from your experiences. 

Submit Your Team DPF Moments of Victory® Story now 

If you’re not yet part of Team DPF, but you’d like to join us in raising money to help people live well with Parkinson’s today, contact our team to get started.   

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