Thank You

On this Thanksgiving Day, I’m not only grateful for the good in my life but I’m also grateful for all of it—the rejections, the failures and the challenges. I took Lynne Begier’s class last week and through her words and teaching, I was reminded how much these set backs in life bring even more love in.

As many of you, Jon and I’s life has now been touched by Parkinson’s disease. Ironically, this challenge has done nothing but bring more love and community into our life. We joined the Michael J. Fox Foundation community and have been incredibly supported by Team Fox and the Young Professional Group here in Boston.

We had the honor of running our first marathon together in Chicago for Team Fox. We became an event planning team hosting three hugely successful events to raise money and awareness for the Foundation–Pedal for Parkinson’s & Yoga.Beer.Beats at Sweat and Soul Yoga and Charity Night at Sweetgreen. These events alone raised more than $4,000 with over 200 people in attendance.

  
Pictures from our Pedal for Parkinson’s event last June

Pictures from our Yoga.Beer.Beats event this past November

Jon and I have also met incredible people throughout the country who either have Parkinson’s disease or have a family member that has passed with it or is living with it. One person who has truly touched our lives is Jimmy Choi. Jimmy is a member of Team Fox and has Parkinson’s disease. He has taken this challenge and it has inspired him to run marathons and also create community. It’s people like Jimmy who are changing not only their life but who are also changing ours.

    
Jimmy has completed a number of marathons (too many to count!) and this is us with Jimmy after the 2014 Chicago Marathon.

And lastly, because of YOU we have raised $7,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation of which 100% will go to the programs and research for finding a cure. Jon and I are so humbled and so honored to feel the love and support from all of you. I’m truly a believer that with bad can only come good, especially on this day of gratitude. Let this story inspire you to let every challenge not define you but motivate you to find the good.

“Our challenges don’t define us, our actions do.”- Michael J. Fox Foundation .

With love,

Cara & Jon