The founders created the organization to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s research, and connect Parkinson’s patients with alternative treatments. Joe Holmes received a young-onset Parkinson’s diagnosis two years ago, at 40 years old, he said.
“We want to be the kind of place that people come to for financial support,” Joe Holmes said.
Zooming in
Alternative Parkinson’s treatments include plant-based treatments as well as CBD, Joe Holmes said, noting that alternative treatments can give patients the option to delay pharmaceutical treatment until later in their lives.
“There are quite a lot of studies out there for these holistic plant-based alternative treatments, but there needs to be more,” Courtney Holmes said, who is also a former nurse and the current clinical director at a healthcare IT company. “Anything outside of [pharmaceuticals] is not covered by insurance.”
Parkinson’s Disease is a degenerative nervous system disease, affecting movement, balance and muscle control, according to the Mayo Clinic website, and affects at least 500,000 people in the United States, according to the National Institute of Health's website. The condition worsens over time, and no cure exists.
“What works for me does not always work for everybody," Joe Holmes said. "What we are trying to do is give people access."
Get involved
The Holmes family will host a Kentucky Derby-themed kickoff party at the Eldorado Country Club in McKinney at 6:30 p.m., April 25 to mark the launch of the foundation. The event will feature derby fare, drinks, live music and a silent auction, a foundation spokesperson said.
