My name is Tim Lockard. I was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s in October 2021 at the age of 44. This was devastating as a young man with three sons. Your initial fear is that you really don’t know how many more quality years you have left to live. Would I be around for a graduation, or weddings, or grandkids?

After my diagnosis, I battled horrible depression. This disease will make you feel like you’re alone in a room filled with hundreds of people. It took me months to be able to sit down and tell my three boys. But they took it well and immediately began to instill confidence in me that all is going to be OK, that they were the three reasons that I had to fight.

I was always religious, but in my own way. I wasn’t quite sure what I did to deserve Parkinson’s. So, I began to dive deep back into my faith. Sometimes when you’re on your knees and you don’t know what life is throwing at you, you just have to give God the steering wheel and let Him guide you. Well, He did just that and then some.

I immediately reached out to the Michael J. Fox Foundation and started fundraising. Then I wanted to dive deep into advocacy. I knew for two years what it felt like to be alone. But I let my guard down and enjoyed this beautiful community of Parkinson’s warriors, and I didn’t feel so alone anymore.

My days were starting to get filled with optimism and good advice on how to battle this disease. I started an online forum called MYPDPARTY, where I created a community for people to not feel alone. It’s filled with advice, laughs, and advocacy towards a cure. My forum was greatly accepted, and I was chosen to go to Washington to advocate on Capitol Hill. This led to a newly formed relationship with Senator Cory Booker, where together we will battle until a cure is found.

Because of my advocacy work, I was recognized by Michael J. Fox himself through email and by his foundation, and I was given the 2025 Hero of Advocacy award, which is their highest honor.

While I do not wish this disease upon anyone, I can acknowledge that it has made me a much better person. I am more in touch with my feelings. I have a true appreciation for just how short life is. It has made me slow down to appreciate all of God’s miracles and to want to make the most of my days. I can guarantee you that will include constant advocating toward a cure, as I believe it is within reach in my lifetime.