Neighbor News
Franksville Woman Honors Loved One Living with Parkinson’s Disease
Michelle Dubs Spearheads Team for Moving Day Milwaukee Event on May 21 to Benefit the Parkinson's Foundation
On Saturday, May 21, Michelle Dubs will be joined by 20 relatives, friends and colleagues from Merz Therapeutics at the Moving Day Milwaukee walk to benefit the Parkinson’s Foundation. Held at Hart Park in Wauwatosa, Moving Day Milwaukee will bring together the Parkinson’s disease (PD) community to celebrate the importance of movement and fundraise for local research, patient care and educational programs.
“My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s after I started college, so I know firsthand how this disease affects the patient as well as the entire family,” said Michelle of Franksville. “It has been difficult to watch my dad slowly lose his strength and some physical abilities, but he remains positive and active, which have been critical to maintaining a good quality of life.”
In 2010, Michelle’s father, Steve, was concerned about the tremor in his left hand. He suspected he might have experienced a stroke because his symptoms were similar to his mother’s after she suffered a stroke. Steve endured several visits with doctors; a stroke was ruled out and he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Today Steve manages his symptoms with medication and an active lifestyle, which includes swimming, walking, and engaging with his grandchildren.
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When Michelle learned about Moving Day Milwaukee, she was eager to get involved and recognized it would be an ideal opportunity for her colleagues, too. Merz Therapeutics, which was established in 2020 under the Merz Pharmaceutical umbrella, focuses on improving the lives of patients who suffer from movement disorders (including Parkinson’s), spasticity and other neurological conditions, and ultimately, brings better outcomes to more patients.
As the volunteer chair of Merz Cares, the company’s charitable organization, Michelle has been recruiting employees to participate in Moving Day with the Merz Tech Ops team. In addition to Michelle, at least one other employee on the Merz team will be walking on behalf of a loved one living with PD. Together, the team has exceeded their fundraising goal, collecting nearly $900, which will be matched by Merz.
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Progressive, intensive exercise is beneficial for people with PD. In fact, studies have shown exercise can improve gait, balance, tremor, flexibility, grip strength and motor coordination, plus it may possibly slow disease progression.
“My dad has good and bad days, but when he exercises, he feels his best both physically and mentally,” said Michelle.
About Moving Day Milwaukee
Moving Day Milwaukee is a movement for change—towards more awareness, more funding, and more understanding of Parkinson’s disease. In its six-year history, Moving Day Milwaukee has raised approximately $310,000 for local research and programs that help improve the lives of patients and families affected by Parkinson’s disease.
Moving Day is made possible, in part, through the generous support of national partners Abbott and Amneal. Locally, the event is sponsored by Kyowa Kirin, My Choice Wisconsin, Acadia, Medtronic and 95.7 BIG FM.
To learn more and register for Moving Day Milwaukee, visit MovingDayMilwaukee.org. Registration is free and participants are encouraged to fundraise.
About the Parkinson’s Foundation
The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson’s community. For more information, visit www.parkinson.org.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative, progressive disorder that affects dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra. People with PD may experience tremors, slowness of movements (bradykinesia), gait and balance problems, and non-motor symptoms including depression, anxiety, constipation and cognitive impairment.
Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD each year, and in Wisconsin, there are an estimated 15,000 people living with Parkinson’s disease.
About Merz Cares
Merz Cares, the charitable organization of Merz Therapeutics, provides charitable support to local and national organizations. They support programs and organizations aligned with the company’s values, with a focus on the physical and mental health and wellness of women, children and veterans.
