An interview with Steve Squires on Advocacy & Team FOX on December 20, 2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
I am 48 with an automotive background. I tint windows and install electronics into cars such as audio and remote. I love social sports like bowling and golf and most recently tried axe throwing. I have been married to my beautiful wife Kelli for 26 years and we have one son that lives in Stuart, Florida. I was diagnosed 23 years ago and had this disease almost half of my life. I was the second person in the U.S. to have the experimental MRI Focused Ultrasound procedure done by the University of Maryland in 2015.
Can you tell me more about your organization?
Our organization is Team Fox of Michiana. We started fundraising for the Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2016 and have raised over $100,000 for research.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
My wife ran the Chicago half marathon back in 2015 and she ran with the Team Fox crew. We met a bunch of great people at the event and our relationships just blossomed from there.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when working with you?
Most who contact me want to know how I am doing after having PD for 23 years. They are curious to my levels of progression and try to get an insider’s view of what the disease has done to me and what I have done to combat it.
What events do you participate in?
We try to participate in as many Parkinson’s events that we can especially the Team FOX events.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
Our page on Facebook is TEAM FOX OF MICHIANA. Messages are always accepted as well as email or phone calls.
How can others also become advocates for awareness?
I recommend getting involved with Team Fox or the Parkinson’s Foundation
How can we better fundraise to support a cure for Parkinson’s?
We are always looking for creative and fun ways to get people involved and to raise awareness of this disease.
What other activities do you undertake to help improve and support your daily living Eg exercise and alternative remedies?
I golf and bowl as well as walk or ride my bicycle (weather permitting)
Have you had any family members or relatives affected by Parkinson’s disease?
I am the only one in my family to have the disease. We have a notion that I developed the disease from first generation automotive airbag exposure (after deployment there is a powder that has been known to cause neuro damage in lab animals.
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
If you have PD, don’t stop moving unless you want to STOP MOVING! This is a progressive disease, but you do have some control over the level and speed of development.