Insight, June 2020
– My main focus in life today is Parkinson’s disease awareness and hope for a cure in my mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman’s memory.
My number one drive is togetherforsharon.com Sadly my mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman passed away on 1/1/2020 due to Parkinson’s Disease and dementia. My mother lived with Parkinson’s for decades, but it started to affect her daily activities in 2014. Up until then she was able to spend her favorite day of the week, Sunday, with us in the backyard, blowing bubbles with her grand kids, eating the best meals we could find, but only after a lively debate over where and what she wanted to eat. I miss those funny arguments. I also create videos on awareness to share for awareness. I also participated in podcasts, interviews, articles, television, radio, blogs and magazines to ensure my mothers story is never forgotten.
My family created togetherforsharon.com for Parkinson’s awareness & hope for a cure. I wanted a place where people could find information since I could not when I needed help desperately.
“My mother was the most caring, loving, positive person I know, and always put her family and friends first” Sharon’s son, George.
Selfie Bands The wristband band was created in January 2020 as a tribute to my mom, and as a way to raise awareness of Parkinson’s Disease, as we continue to hope for a cure, in memory of my mom Sharon Riff Ackerman. We have self-paid and send over 1,500 around the United States so those who want to help keep my mother’s memory alive, support awareness and hope for a cure. If you go to togetherforsharon.com we post many of the individuals’ pictures with the band selfie and share it with over 5,000 people on social media.
Fundraising We help fundraise and participate in events for the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (Optimism Walk), Parkinson’s Foundation (Moving Day) and Team Fox, the Michael J Fox Foundation. All donations that go to those organizations have a direct link in my mother’s memory at togetherforsharon.com
Partnerships In only a few months I have met so many incredible people who are also going through the effects of this horrible disease and caretakers. I have partnered with organizations around the world such as Adira Foundation, Cure Parkinson’s Trust, Drive Toward a Cure, European Parkinson’s Disease Association, Parkinson’s Australia, Parkinson Canada, ParkinsonsDisease.net, Parkinson’s UK, The Brian Grant Foundation, The Davis Phinney Foundation, The Gray Strong Foundation, Science of Parkinson, Spotlight YOPD, Step up for Parkinson, Pacing for Parkinson’s, Pedaling 4 Parkinson’s and Punch 4 Parkinson.
My main objective is to continue to raise awareness in my mother’s memory. I am confident helping awareness will lead to a cure someday. I need everyone’s help to sharing my mother’s story with one person, wear the band or just following togetherforsharon.com on social media or email me directly at togetherforsharon@gmail.com
CONCLUSION I am grateful for the opportunity to share my mother’s story. I am just the son of an incredible woman who deserved better then and if we had a cure, she would still be with us right now. She was too young to pass away and missed out on 15 years of her life struggling with Parkinson’s disease. I miss her every second of every day. She was my best friend. Sharon’s son, George