Supporting the Boys Of Summer Fundraising Efforts for Parkinson’s

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Deb Pollack, founder Drive Toward a Cure
(t) 805.320.9248   (e) deb@drivetowardacure.org

DRIVE TOWARD A CURE SUPPORTS ‘THE BOYS OF SUMMER’ FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR PARKINSON’S

Father/Son Duo to compete in Walt Disney World Marathon to Benefit Team Fox

ORLANDO, FL – December 1, 2022 – Dan and Robert Cochrane, the father-son team located in Northern California, have made a conscious effort to turn Dan’s challenges with Parkinson’s disease into a winning exercise in optimism and national attention through their own passion for running AND their own ‘Boys of Summer’ documentary series.  The duo has teamed with national non-profit foundation Drive Toward a Cure, which supports Parkinson’s disease, to raise funds to benefit their participation in the Walt Disney World Marathon on January 8th, in Orlando, Fla, with all proceeds to be provided to Team Fox, within the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF). www.drivetowardacure.org/fundraising/yax

The Walt Disney World Marathon will be the second recognized marathon in which the two have participated, following completing the famed ‘Bay to Breakers’ last May in San Francisco.  Long before Dan, the senior Cochrane, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2001, he was a passionate runner, competing regularly in the infamous marathon.  Last year, his son Robert, with the help of a Hoyt running chair, pushed his dad through the epic race, including the Hayes St. Hill, helping Dan to compete again for the first time in more than 20 years.

Similarly, Robert Cochrane, who recently completed his PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, will push his father once again during the epic 26.2-mile race, which extends throughout Orlando’s Walt Disney Resort.

According to Robert, when he and his dad ran the Bay to Breakers in May 2022, they thought they’d done it all. “We were on top the world – or at least the Hayes St. Hill,” said Robert.  “Then Team Fox (Michael J. Fox Foundation) called and asked, what would you think about joining us in Orlando for the Walt Disney World Marathon? – To be clear, they offered us the 5k, 10k, Half or Full marathon. Dad said, “Let’s do the full!” And as the guy pushing him I said, “Why not?”

Later, Robert forged an additional alignment with Drive Toward a Cure, which has contributed to MJFF since its inception in 2016 and offered to help spread the word and seed a link for direct donations.  All funds raised through www.drivetowardacure.org/fundraising/yax receive a tax-deductible receipt and 100 percent of the dollars will go directly to Team Fox.

‘BOYS OF SUMMER’

In addition to his interest and well-earned degree, Robert Cochrane is a director, writer, producer, and veteran filmmaker.  With three narrative features, four additional documentary features and two award-winning short films under his belt, his passion for sports and storytelling gave him the tools and acumen to create the ‘Boys of Summer’ documentary series highlighting his father’s journey with Parkinson’s and building a closer bond between the men, which extends by providing a legacy to Robert’s own son Giuseppe. 

Robert and Dan’s story may be familiar as they have documented their journey with PD through the award-winning documentary series, Boys of Summer since 2004. The first three films in the series, First Base, Second Base and Short Stop can be seen for free at www.bosmovie.com. This race will mark the final scene in production of the fourth film in that series, Third Base.

Robert’s interests with Parkinson’s disease go deeper: He recently completed his PhD in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His dissertation focused on the ability of improvisation and storytelling to improve quality of life measures for people with and affected by PD. More on those evidence-based programs, including how to participate and the research surrounding them, can be found at www.yesandexercise.com.

MJFF/Team Fox Background and Cochrane Involvement

MJFF accelerates high-impact science through smart risk taking and problem solving with a commitment to urgency and efficiency. Robert is one of thousands of people around the globe who has turned his passion into a Team Fox fundraiser to help speed a cure for Parkinson’s. 100 percent of Team Fox proceeds go straight to MJFF’s programmatic efforts. He has partnered with Drive Toward a Cure, which has supported MJFF since 2016, to raise money for PD research.

 

About Drive Toward a Cure:

Drive Toward a Cure raises funds and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease research AND patient care. Inspired by the camaraderie found within the automotive culture, the organization’s mission benefits equally from both enthusiast communities and industry professionals.  Drive Toward a Cure events harness enthusiasm for cars and driving and turn that power into support for ongoing work to improve the lives of those living with Parkinson’s, as well as the research that will hopefully one day lead to a cure. Since 2016, Drive Toward a Cure has raised more than one million dollars to support BOTH research AND patient care.

Drive Toward a Cure is a 501(c)(3) non-profit supporting beneficiaries including The Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Parkinson’s Foundation, and numerous Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s. For donations, sponsorship and event registration please visit www.drivetowardacure.org.

About Parkinson’s Disease

Affecting nearly one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression), as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson’s and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.

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