Page created by: Amy Whitehurst

My dad fought Parkinson's for 13 long years. My kids don't remember him without a tremor or his shuffle walk. His symptoms continued to deteriorate his mobility and quality of life to the point that no one noticed when he developed cancer. They continued to blame the cancer symptoms on the Parkinson's. By the time it was identified, it was too advanced and he was too weak to treat it. How could that happen? How could cancer be undiagnosed that long in this day and age? Because, over time, the benefits of drugs frequently diminish or become less consistent and muscle weakness, nausea, lack of appetite and weight loss can all easily be improperly attributed to the advancement of Parkinson's.

I want to support Parkinson's research because I don't want anyone else to have to deal with what my father and our family dealt with. I don't want anyone else to have missed diagnoses because the symptoms of Parkinson's can't be well controlled. I chose the Michael J Fox Foundation because 88 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to research and because he has brought much-needed attention to this disease.

Tom Perrin was born October 16, 1946 in Fairborn, Ohio. He began working as a mechanic at 15 years old and went on to love and repair cars until he couldn't anymore because of the Parkinson's. During his career, he worked on everything from race cars to fire trucks, dump trucks and police cars. He truly had a knack for understanding and repairing engines. His biggest impact, though, was in his generosity in working on the cars of anyone who needed it in our driveway at home. Everyone who knew him appreciated having an honest mechanic who was willing to help. He is greatly missed by his wife of 49 years, Kathy, his two daughters, Amy and Lori, and 4 grandchildren, Ashlyn, Barrett, Avery and Liliana and a son-in-law that was like the son he never had, Gareth.