PARTICIPANTS’ STORIES
Corina & Ruby Villalobos
Ruby coordinates Spanish Language Outreach Programming for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix, AZ. She first got involved with the center because of the Spanish language programming the center offered her mother, Corina. Corina is now a lead performer with Voces Unidas, the center’s award-winning Spanish choir.
Denise & R. Bernard Coley
Denise Coley is the Founder & Co-Managing Partner of Enable Your Vision, a firm that provides supplier diversity consulting to drive economic vitality for diverse businesses, corporations, and the communities in which they reside. Since being diagnosed with PD in 2018, Denise has become a Parkinson’s Advocate focused on increasing Parkinson’s awareness and resources to under-engaged and remote global communities.
R. Bernard Coley is an executive with 50+ years of experience in the high technology industry. He has served on many boards in senior leadership roles. He has a lengthy career of volunteer work including community development projects, supporting the arts, youth development, business leadership development, and facilitating/mentoring entrepreneurial development in underserved and indigenous communities
Denise and her care partner/co-advocate Bernard helped develop an educational guide for Parkinson’s disease (PD) designed specifically for the Black and African American community, PD MOVERS - WE KEEP MOVING. Denise and Bernard are also co-chairs of the Special Interest Group-Black Diaspora group focusing on closing health disparities and bringing Black patient perspectives to Parkinson’s Disease research.
Larry & Rebecca Gifford
Larry, diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease in 2017 at the age of 45, underwent Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery in October 2023. As the co-founder and President of PD Avengers, he leads a global initiative to end Parkinson's Disease and raise awareness for those affected. Larry had a 30 year career in radio broadcast and was the National Director of AM Radio for Corus Entertainment in Canada.
Rebecca, a cancer survivor and writer, brings her personal experience to her work as a facilitator of workshops for both people with Parkinson’s (PwP) and their care partners. She was a contributor and member of the planning committee for the World Parkinson Coalition’s Care Partner Virtual Talk series, and a committee member and facilitator for the World Parkinson Congress’ Care Partner Lounge in Barcelona in 2023.
Larry and Rebecca co-hosted the podcast “When Life Gives You Parkinson’s.”
María L. De León, MD
Maria is a movement disorder neurologist who herself was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2008. Since her diagnosis, she has become a PD advocate, research consultant and author of four books addressing gender differences and cultural barriers in PD research and diagnosis, emphasizing holistic treatment and care of individuals, including their spiritual well being.
Liz Ogren
Liz was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2007 after several years of subtle yet remarkable changes that were odd for a “young” active person. After being diagnosed with PD, she spent lots of time on her couch. Fortunately, her family convinced her to get off the couch and start biking and walking. The benefits were immediate. She founded Pedal and Roll for Parkinson’s in 2011 to motivate other people with Parkinson’s to get off the couch and be active. The group organizes weekly rides and trainings and has a fleet of trikes and e-trikes to get people riding who no longer feel safe on two wheels. Liz is also an avid potter.
