09/30/2026
To all of the Rock Steady Boxing coaches who attended Coach Con in Dallas this past week, we hope you had a wonderful time connecting, learning, and sharing ideas with coaches from across the country!
If you attended, you should have received information from the National Parkinsons Institute in your Coach Con swag bag highlighting two initiatives that are especially important to us — and that we hope to continue growing nationally.
🥊 Parkinson’s Buddy Program:
The Parkinson’s Buddy Program connects medical students with individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, giving future physicians an opportunity to learn about Parkinson’s beyond the classroom and develop meaningful relationships with the people and families they may one day serve.
We believe this model has the potential to make an impact in communities across the country, particularly through partnerships between Parkinson’s organizations, medical schools, universities, and local advocates.
Learn more:
https://nationalparkinsonsinstitute.com/buddy-program/
🌷 Parkinson’s Awareness License Plate Initiative:
After successfully bringing a Parkinson’s Awareness specialty license plate to Kentucky, NPI and Red Tulip for Parkinson's Awareness are working toward a much bigger goal: helping bring Parkinson’s Awareness license plates to all 50 states.
Each state has its own process, which is why local involvement is so important. We are building a network of Local Champions who can help us make connections, build support, and move the initiative forward in their own states.
Learn more or get involved:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/join-the-red-tulip-movement
Contact us directly: [email protected]
Rock Steady coaches are uniquely connected to Parkinson’s communities across the country. You know the individuals and families we serve, as well as the physicians, nonprofits, universities, advocates, and community leaders who can help initiatives like these grow.
If something in your swag bag caught your attention, we would love to connect with you!
Our goal is simple: take ideas that are making a difference locally and help create opportunities for them to make an impact nationally.
Thank you to the Rock Steady Boxing community for all you continue to do for people living with PD!
Red Tulip for Parkinson's Awareness
Together for Sharon
Grace Martin
Sam Baron
University of Louisville School of Medicine
UofL Health
Jennifer Parkinson Iljin
K Rose Follmar-Mitchell
Mike Lanzalotti
Sherri Muse Bickley
Rock Steady Boxing International HQ
