For Sara and Andy Salisbury, crossing the finish line at the Thunder Road Race in Charlotte was a special tribute to their father, Andy, who has Parkinson’s disease.
Sara and Andy have seen their father live with this devastating disease their entire lives. Parkinson’s, a progressive neurological disease, has slowly affected Andy’s ability to walk and speak.
“Parkinson’s can never rob my dad of his love for life,” Sara says. “His courage, determination and sense of humor through all of this have been miraculous and are a true testament to his character. I admire my dad more than anyone in the world and aspire to be like him every day.”
While there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, this brother and sister duo decided to help their father fight Parkinson’s by raising money to help fund local research at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. They laced up their running shoes and took to the street to “pound the pavement” with the financial and moral support of friends and family. Together, they have raised more than $140,000 from friends, family and members of the community.
The finish line is really the starting point for Sara and Andy as they help not only their father, but countless others in the Carolinas who will benefit from the research and treatments that develop with their support. The money benefits the Carolinas Center for Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders at Carolinas Medical Center to support advanced research and treatment for Parkinson’s disease.
About the Carolinas Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Endowment
This endowment was initiated in 2007 to sustain and enhance the comprehensive treatment, education, and research programs at CMC’s New Center for Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders. Carolinas HealthCare Foundation and volunteer fundraising leadership are seeking to build an endowment to support dedicated physical and speech therapy positions, patient counseling and support efforts, translation research programs and alliances with complementary and alternative medicine providers.