Team Fox pairs with local sponsors for Parkinson’s fundraiser
“Back To … A Future Without Parkinson’s,” a community fundraising event for research into fighting Parkinson’s disease, will be held on Sunday, October 18. It will begin with a 10 a.m. showing of “Back to the Future” starring Michael J. Fox, at Teaneck Cinemas, followed by a sponsors’ brunch hosted by Holy Name Medical Center.
The day is organized by Team Fox and the DebbyLou Charitable Fund; October 18 is the 30th anniversary of the film’s release. Team Fox, the grassroots arm of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, is the vehicle through which individuals and communities raise money for Parkinson’s research. This chapter of Team Fox, spearheaded by Debby and Louis Flancbaum of Teaneck, in response to Lou’s being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, has raised more than $200,000 since 2010. It has strong community and local business support.
“I want to find a cure for Parkinson’s in Louis’ lifetime to help him and others,” said Debby Flancbaum. “The generosity and participation of Teaneck Cinemas’ owner, Matthew Latten, Holy Name Medical Center, and Jack Wasserman of Fairway Kosher Caterers will provide an entertaining and informative day while raising much needed funds to help find a cure.”
Doc Brown and Marty McFly impersonators, plus a silent auction and raffle prizes, will add to the fun and excitement, as will a DeLorean — the kind of car that featured so prominently in the movie — parked right outside the theater.
Jacqueline Kates, Holy Name’s community relations and public affairs coordinator and a former mayor of Teaneck, presented the idea of donating event space for the sponsor’s brunch to Michael Maron, the medical center’s president and CEO. “I am gratified that Mr. Maron strongly agrees that Holy Name should be part of this community effort to raise money for research to help the fight against Parkinson’s disease,” Ms. Kates said.
HNMC offers the DaTscan test, the first FDA-approved radiopharmaceutical imaging agent to help physicians evaluate patients with suspected Parkinson’s disease and other Parkinsonian syndromes. It is the only test that allows doctors to diagnose Parkinson’s with certainty, which means that people who have the syndrome can begin receiving proper treatment as early as possible. HNMC also has therapists who are trained to work with Parkinson’s patients and their families at its Center for Physical Rehabilitation on the Holy Name campus as well as at HNH Fitness, Holy Name’s medically-based fitness center in Oradell.
Holy Name plans to have some of its physicians and physical rehabilitation specialists speak about Parkinson’s at the brunch. “Many businesses and organizations in the community will be involved, and Holy Name wants to be right there in the forefront of the participation,” Ms. Kates said.
For information call Debby Flancbaum at (551) 486-5756 or email Lou Flancbaum at louflancbaum@aol.com. Buy tickets at backtoafuture.com.
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