Trinity Western University is hosting the 2016 Pacific Northwest Tour de Fox, a Michael J. Fox Foundation fundraiser for Parkinson’s research on August 20, 2016.
TWU isn't just hosting the event. President Bob Kuhn, who has lived with Parkinson’s since 2006, will ride 35 miles (about 56 km) in the Tour de Fox as the captain of Team TWU.
“Many of the 5,000,000+ people who have Parkinson’s disease suffer a lot more than I do,” wrote Kuhn on his Tour de Fox page. “Many feel hopeless and incredibly discouraged. They need to have hope. So it is for those people that I want to do all I can to help find a cure. I’m riding in the Tour de Fox as part of Team TWU because it reminds me that there is still much that I can do. It reminds me to appreciate that I am alive.”
“Research for Parkinson's disease is close to our hearts at Trinity Western University,” said Amy Robertson, a university spokesperson. “Our president, Bob Kuhn, inspires us every day, and we’d like to rally behind him. TWU is an official sponsor of the Tour de Fox ride, but more importantly, our community is a family, so we're building Team TWU to ride with Bob and make a difference.”
Thus far, Team TWU, at 17 riders and counting, has raised nearly $15,000, putting them in first place among all the teams riding in the Pacific Northwest cycling event thus far.
Participants raise funds and choose either a 10-mile, 35-mile, or 70-mile bicycle loop, all of which begin and end on the TWU campus in Langley. All funds will be matched by a generous donor and will support programs to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
Kuhn has been a longtime supporter of Parkinson’s research. In 2014, he raised $24,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation through the 50 CC motorcycle ride.