The Community Fundraising team at MJFF is continually inspired by our extraordinary peer-to-peer community. Each year, we’re moved by the stories of their dedication, creativity and impact.
MVP Storyboards
Starting with MVP 2023, MJFF introduced storyboards to help bring more of these stories to life — and we’re thrilled to continue that tradition for our 2026 event. We invite you to explore this year’s storyboards and find inspiration in one another.
DIY: Fundraising Your Way
Team Fox do-it-yourself (DIY) fundraisers show that when creativity meets community, anything can help advance Parkinson’s research. Across the country, supporters are turning personal passions into powerful events — each one different, meaningful and deeply rooted in connection.
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How Play for Parkinson’s Inspires, Educates and Gives Back to Research
Play for Parkinson’s grew from a simple idea: that people touched by Parkinson’s disease are stronger when they come together. Over six years, that belief has powered a community that has raised nearly $800,000 for Parkinson’s research, including more than $260,000 last year alone.
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Margie’s Movement: 13 Years of Impact at the Parkinson’s Unity Walk
Margie Alley didn’t wait long after her Parkinson’s diagnosis to take action. Diagnosed in March 2012 at age 48, she was back on her feet just one month later, forming a team for the Parkinson’s Unity Walk. What began as a small group of close friends and family steadily grew, with Margie serving as team captain.
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From the North Shore to Carson Beach: How Community Drives the Boston Run/Walk
The North Shore Walk for Parkinson’s Disease began in 2007 as a small community event rooted in family, love and determination. Founded by Anna Wolfe and her family in honor of her father who was living with PD, the walk was created to support research and bring people together.
Racing For a Cure
For Sonny Whelen, racing has always been about momentum — moving forward, pushing limits and bringing people together around a shared passion.
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Team Bell: Community in Action at MJFF's Virtual Tour de Fox
When Andy Bell was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, his friends and fellow cyclists wanted to show their support in a meaningful way, quickly rallying behind him.
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Miles and Milestones: 20 Years of the New York City Marathon
For two decades, our community has brought energy and impact to the NYC Marathon — from pounding the pavement to ringing cowbells from the sidelines.
From Clinic to Course
After 17 years helping Parkinson’s patients build strength and resilience, physical therapist Joellyn Fox ran the 2025 Boston Marathon in honor of her father and inspired by her patients — becoming Team Fox’s top fundraiser with over $63,000 raised.
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Playing Poker for Parkinson's
Inspired by his father’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, Rich Kline turned his professional network and love of poker into Poker for Parkinson’s — an annual Dreamforce tradition that brings people together to build community and support research.
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A Friendship That Sparked a Dream
After connecting with Katrina Allison following their shared diagnosis in 2010, Debbie Flamini turned their friendship into a lasting force for good — founding Team Debina’s Dream, walking together each year and building an unstoppable community.
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Turning a Lifetime of Cycling into Impact
A lifelong cyclist, Scott Erickson channeled his passion into purpose after his Parkinson’s diagnosis — joining the Tour de Fox in 2019, building a committed team while becoming a steady and dedicated presence in the community year after year.
Team Mac Pack in Action
After years of undiagnosed symptoms, Laurie McAnespie became a driving force — leading her Boston Run/Walk team, organizing events, volunteering nationwide and advocating before Congress.
Building Community Across the Globe
From continent-spanning ultramarathons to centuries-old pilgrimage routes, exhilarating climbs, and creative DIY fundraisers, Team Fox members continue to show up for research across the globe, turning every effort into meaningful impact.
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World Marathon Challenge
Christian Brown-Johnson completed the 777 — running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days and raising over $10,000 in honor of his grandfather. Lincoln Bode also took on the 777, completing seven half marathons on seven continents in seven days, raising over $38,000 in 2025 in memory of his father, Hank.
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El Camino de Santiago
Tommy Melli completed the 500-mile El Camino de Santiago through Spain while living with Parkinson’s disease, raising over $28,000 and carrying a banner that grew from 15 to 80 names of people affected by the disease. Mary Messick also completed the Camino as her first MJFF fundraiser, raising more than $63,000 in honor of her husband, Kirk.
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Mount Kilimanjaro
In September 2025, 10 hikers — including three living with Parkinson’s — set out to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Step by step, they made their way to Uhuru Peak, reaching the summit at sunrise. Standing together on the Roof of Africa, they celebrated not just the climb, but the strength and determination it took to get there. Their journey raised $135,000 for research.
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3 Volcano Challenge
In November 2025, 12 hikers — including four living with Parkinson’s — took on Guatemala’s Acatenango, Atitlán and Pacaya volcanoes. Over seven days, they climbed, camped and supported one another, even watching lava erupt from nearby Fuego while positioned high on Acatenango. The first Team Fox group to attempt this challenge, they raised $137,000 for research.
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Chamonix Tour de Fox
In Chamonix, France, in the French Alps, Wanda Kim Lilley grew the Chamonix Tour de Fox into a three-day cycling and golfing event that welcomed more than 100 riders in person and virtually. Inspired by the Team Fox spirit she experienced at MJFF’s Wine Country Tour de Fox ride, Wanda rallied loved ones in her community, raising over $100,000 in 2025.
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Team Fox Tokyo
In Tokyo, Japan, Temmy Latner hosted the first-ever Team Fox fundraising event in Asia, which was also her first fundraiser for the Foundation. The event raised more than $60,000 and brought together members of the Parkinson’s community, medical experts and entrepreneurs who shared insights on Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia and emerging treatment methods.
Miles for Mom
In 2025, two Team Fox runners took on meaningful miles in honor of their moms, turning personal motivation into action.
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Kelly Maccioli
To mark her family’s 10th year fundraising with Team Fox, Kelly set an ambitious goal of running 2,025 miles in 2025 — inspired by her mother, who has lived with Parkinson’s for nearly 20 years. She completed the final miles surrounded by family and friends, raising $11,340.
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Aubrey Hartman
Aubrey, alongside her husband, Chris, and sister-in-law, Stephanie, ran the OC Marathon in honor of her mom, Lynnaea, who was diagnosed in 2023. Together, their team raised $25,000 — proof that love and determination can carry families far beyond the finish line.
Moments That Move Us
A look back at the people, milestones and memories that defined this year’s MVP fundraisers — capturing the energy, community and purpose behind every effort in 2025.
