Foundation donates $24,000 to nonprofit to provide Parkinson’s caregivers

Bill Morgan is looking forward to celebrating 50 years with his wife next week. He is not letting her Parkinson’s diagnosis stop him from loving her.

“I can’t cure my wife,” Morgan said.

But, he does all he can to take care of her. He said it is a challenging job. It is a job that the Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida states is only becoming more difficult.

Linda Goldfield, the executive director of the Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida, said it is facing a crisis in our community.

“Each month, we provide over 150 hours of programming,” Goldfield said, “to help people live well with the disease.”

On average, every nine minutes someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The non-profit offers programs, along with help for caregivers and patients alike.

However, those programs cost money, which is why Goldfield is grateful that the Moorings Park Foundation will contribute over $24,000 to their cause.

Moorings Park Vice-President Steve Brinkert is proud of the work it does. It offers exercise classes, support groups and education. These health opportunities are all free to caregivers and patients. With the grant, it can help more people.

Goldfield said she is incredibly grateful as caretaking is expensive.

Morgan said he pays about $1,500 a week for it. Though, to him, it is a small price to pay to keep the woman he loves alive.

“Right now,” Morgan said, “we are lucky we made it.”