For 25 years, Roy got diagnosis after diagnosis, surgeries, and nothing worked. Nothing happened. The tremor remained. Five years ago, at the age of 50, doctors got it right: Parkinson's. In that moment, Roy found relief. "I was so frustrated for so long without knowing what was wrong," he said. But now he had a name. "I wanted to create a game plan to battle the disease that would affect me, my family and friends. And this 'battle' would be fought and won in the hospitals and laboratories and fueled by clinical research."

Since then, life has taken a drastic turn. Roy laughs when he says he used to have it all: the Porsche, the penthouse, and Harley. And he sold it all and went on a ride with Parkinson's.

There have been clinical trials, fundraisers, DBS surgery last July, and a few months later the PD Challenge, a biking trip across the country to raise awareness and be an advocate for Parkinson's patients.

Along the route, Roy and his wife, Lynn, stopped in many cities and met with many Parkinson's patients. He spent time talking with those people about their options and about trials. Roy went out and found three of the clinical trials he participated in on his own. The fourth he found through Fox Trial Finder, MJFF’s online clinical trials matching tool.

“Fox Trial Finder is huge,” he said. “Michael J. Fox is the most recognized … that’s what people think when they hear Parkinson’s.”

“The problem with trials, Roy explains, has always been, ‘How are we going to find people who want to sign up and help find a cure?’ Fox Trial Finder helps people get there. People think clinical trials are hard, but they can be so easy,” he added. “You could be a victim, or you could do something bigger than yourself,” he said.

Roy believes research is getting close to a cure for PD. “I truly believe there are no failed studies,” he said. “Every study brings you closer to a cure.” Even if a study doesn't work, it’s something to check off the list, much like his many diagnoses over the years.

Lynn chimes in talking about their journey and how they advocate for clinical trial participation and Parkinson's. "Roy always says," she said, "Maybe it won't help me, but maybe it'll help my grandkids."

Read more about Roy and the PD Challenge at pdchallenge.com. And sign up for Fox Trial Finder so you, too, can be bigger than yourself.

Kate Harmon is a guest blogger for FoxFeed and profiles members of the PD community who have participated in clinical trials when she's not working as a newspaper editor. Her father has Parkinson's and her entire family is involved in the fight. Check out their family blog for more of these PD warriors, pcrfinc.com.