Ray Devers presented Midwest Chapter Board President Maxine Dust with $311 he raised from the sale of pizza and home-baked goods to his fellow employees.

“Why me?” Ray Devers asked when diagnosed with Parkinson’s last December. If everything happens for a reason, why couldn’t he come up with one for his own situation?

Finally, Ray made up a reason to  give new purpose to his life. He decided he was meant to raise funds to advance PD research and help others touched by this disease.

Ray shared this vision with his supervisors when setting his “priorities and measures” for 2011. They immediately offered to help and throw the weight of the company behind him.

Ray’s first fund raiser netted $311 from the sale of pizza and home-baked goods to fellow employees at Room and Board in Oak Brook, IL. He donated the proceeds to the Midwest Chapter’s Respite Care program because it provides direct relief to local family caregivers.

“We applaud Ray and his co-workers’ ‘can-do’ attitude,” says Chapter President Maxine Dust. “Their positive approach to helping us fulfill our mission sends a message that focusing on helping others with PD may be one way of working through the challenges of having this chronic illness.”

“This win-win proposition allows us to help a long time employee with his personal quest and to fulfill our own desire to be a better corporate citizen,” says Ray’s manager, Craig Sullivan.

Using Parkinson’s awareness month to talk to fellow employees about what it’s like to have PD, Ray says he has found people are “very supportive if you tell them what you need.”

“When I was diagnosed with PD, I realized I had two choices -- sit around and feel sorry for myself or get up and do something,” Ray says. “I chose the latter. The funny thing is that I set out to help other people and found that I’m helping myself.”

“Thank you all who invest their time and money to help us ‘Ease the Burden, and Find the Cure,’” Dust says. “Your donations help us fund vital programs and services that empower people with Parkinson’s and their families to live fuller lives, and further medical research that holds the promise of improved treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s.”

Helping others live well with Parkinson’s
is key to helping ourselves