I was 10 years old when my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1981. For the next 23 years, Parkinson’s was simply part of my life, like it or not.
I was a naturally inquisitive kid, always asking “why?” But when it came to Parkinson’s, there were few answers. This was the pre-Internet world after all, and my family didn’t have the information, medical community, or people who could help us understand what was happening or what might lie ahead. I was left with a lot of unanswered questions—and a lot of fear, confusion, and shame. And boy was I angry. I couldn’t find anything positive to hold on to, and over the years, I just kept sinking.
When my dad died in 2004 at just 67, something shifted. After years of running from Parkinson’s, I somehow had decided to face it. I wanted to understand it and be around people with it. I wanted to turn all that old noise into something meaningful.
And that’s when I found the New England Parkinson’s Ride—coincidentally, a Ride started by a family from my own hometown. Thank you Woods family!
When I signed up to ride 100 miles in 2009, I didn’t even own a bike. But that leap of faith would be the start of something bigger than I could ever have imagined. Fast forward to today, and I’m grateful to be serving on the Ride’s Board of Directors for my 16th year and riding in my 18th year with Team Woods, led by my now great friend, and reason for the Ride – Chris Woods.
While our Ride Family is filled with people who inspire me, I would be remiss not to mention the impact Chris Woods has had on me. Chris has shown me that living with Parkinson’s isn’t all bad. In fact, there can even be gifts. The way he chooses to live reminds me that having Parkinson’s is not who he is, it’s just a part of his story. He never asks, ‘why me?’ he humbly says, ‘why not me?’ His humility, tenacity, positive attitude and inability to not cry on Ride weekend, have been some of the biggest influences of my life.
Our Ride Family is filled with the kind of people who celebrate each other’s victories, carry one another through difficult days, and never loses sight of why we’re doing what we do. And so yes, I started riding to honor my father, but somewhere along the way, my reason for riding became bigger than my own story.
I ride for the families who are just beginning their journey.
I ride for the people living with Parkinson’s who refuse to let the disease define them.
I ride because research is creating real progress—and because every mile we ride and every dollar we raise helps move that progress forward.
I ride because community simply matters and can move mountains.
And maybe most of all, I ride because I’ve seen what can happen when good people come together around a shared purpose.
The New England Parkinson’s Ride isn’t about a singular cycling event. It’s about a community of people who challenge me, encourage me, and remind me that together we’re stronger and capable of more. We’re a community who believe they can make a difference—and then spend the year proving it.
If you’ve ever wanted to be part of something bigger than yourself, we’d love to have you join us. Whether you ride, volunteer, donate, or simply help spread the word, you’ll be joining a group of remarkable and FUN [Oh my gosh, do we laugh!] people working toward the same goal: A future without Parkinson’s disease.
Together, let’s turn miles into momentum. I hope you’ll join us. Come find me during Ride weekend, I’d love to meet you and show you how that old noise drowning me for years, became meaningful.
By Kim Sherman
If you’d like to donate to my fundraising page, please click here.
