A Cross-Country Journey for Parkinson's Research

A Cross-Country Journey for Parkinson's Research

Marci Silverman • Reader Submitted • April 6, 2009

WOMAN CYCLING ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO RAISE MONEY FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH, STOPS IN LAFAYETTE APRIL 12

A New York City woman is on her way across the country by bicycle with a mission: raising $20,000 to fight Parkinson's Disease, and raising awareness along the way.

Marci Silverman begins her 58-day, 3,100-mile odyssey in San Diego on March 6, 2009, and expects to finish in St. Augustine, Florida, on April 30. In that time she will ride across California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

She decided to make the trip less than two weeks before, and to fund-raise for Parkinson's, a neurological illness that affects movement and muscle control, to honor friends and family members who have the disease.

"For months, we've seen one bad-news headline after another: the mortgage crisis, banks imploding, unemployment skyrocketing," she said. "I thought it was time to do something positive, something constructive, and in a big way."

Silverman's ride is completely self-funded: 100 percent of the money she raises benefits the Davis Phinney Foundation. Phinney is a former pro cyclist living with the disease.

"Our foundation's mission is to help improve the lives of people living with Parkinson's disease today through research and programs related to quality of life therapies," said Amy Howard, Executive Director of the foundation. "Marci's ride across the United States is a wonderful way to raise both awareness and funding for Parkinson's disease research. We are thrilled to be the beneficiary of such a great event."

Visit Silverman's website, http://www.3100miles.com, to follow her progress daily and to sponsor her ride.