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  ## Breadcrumb

- [Home](/)
- [Living with Parkinson's](/living-with-parkinsons)
- [My PD Story](/living-with-parkinsons/stories)
 
  

 

  # My PD Story

 

   ![Rick and Susan Kastner sitting outside.](/sites/default/files/styles/470x550/public/images/Kastner%20PD%20Story.png?h=9105c3fe&itok=YPOPsHH9)  

 Care Partners 

##  Rick and Susan Kastner 

 

  When Rick Kastner’s father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) more than 20 years ago, Rick focused on finding [support resources](/resources-support "Resources & Support") for people living with PD and their care partners.

“My father was diagnosed with PD in 2003,” Rick said. “At that point in time, there just weren’t many places to turn to for support.”

After connecting with a local foundation in Kansas City, Rick and his wife, Susan, found the Parkinson’s Foundation and have been committed supporters ever since.

Now, they regularly volunteer, attend events like Moving Day and support groundbreaking initiatives like [PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation](/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration "PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation").

“The Foundation is a terrific resource for people impacted by Parkinson's and their families,” Rick said. “I’ve always advocated for making life better today for people with Parkinson’s and their [care partners](/resources-support/carepartners "For Care Partners"), but the research the Foundation is doing with PD GENEration is critical, and I think it can make a real difference.”

Rick and Susan are proud advocates of the Parkinson’s Foundation and its resources and hope their generous support encourages others to do the same.

“Parkinson's is often a misunderstood disease, and I think it needs advocates and champions,” Rick said. “Some of the very finest people I know are people living with PD and their families. These terrific people deserve our support and encouragement.”

“Through educational programs and by connecting people with one another, the Parkinson’s Foundation really is helping make life better for people that have Parkinson's today. And the research is encouraging. Soon we might have better treatments, and hopefully someday, a cure.”

[Make a donation to the Parkinson’s Foundation today](http://www3.parkinson.org/site/Donation2?10153.donation=form1&df_id=10153&mfc_pref=T&_gl=1%2A1wcmb9c%2A_gcl_au%2AMTI5MjQyMzA2MS4xNzI4MzI1NDAx%2A_ga%2AMTMwNjA0Mzk2LjE3MjgzMjU0MDI.%2A_ga_57LEHWK3JX%2AMTczMDIxMjM5OC4zNi4xLjE3MzAyMTI0MjQuMC4wLjA.&_ga=2.36183913.897449199.1730126272-130604396.1728325402)

  ##  Related Materials 

   Fact Sheets 

###  [ Pain in Parkinson's Disease ](/library/fact-sheets/pain) 

 

 [Read Now](/library/fact-sheets/pain) 

 Fact Sheets 

###  [ Occupational Therapy & Parkinson's ](/library/fact-sheets/occupational-therapy) 

 

 [Read Now](/library/fact-sheets/occupational-therapy) 

 Fact Sheets 

###  [ Nutrition and PD ](/library/fact-sheets/nutrition) 

 

 [Read Now](/library/fact-sheets/nutrition) 

 

  ##  More Stories 

 from the Parkinson's community

   ![Tom Graffeo](/sites/default/files/styles/340x400/public/images/tom-graffeo-2026-pd-story-hero.jpg?h=c9aea1bc&itok=WVmY3LKa)  

 Care Partners 

###  [ Tom Graffeo ](/living-with-parkinsons/stories/tom-graffeo) 

  READ NOW  

 

 ![Jordan and his dad](/sites/default/files/styles/340x400/public/images/jordan-levin-pd-story-hero.jpg?h=c9aea1bc&itok=iXWnmqlh)  

 Care Partners 

###  [ Jordan Levin ](/living-with-parkinsons/stories/jordan-levin) 

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 ![Kimberly O’Roark headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/340x400/public/images/Kimberly-ORoark-pd-story-hero.jpg?h=c9aea1bc&itok=3GKsm-4c)  

 Care Partners 

###  [ Kimberly O’Roark ](/living-with-parkinsons/stories/kimberly-oroark) 

  READ NOW  

 

 

 [VIEW ALL STORIES](/living-with-parkinsons/stories) 

  

 

 ###  Share your Story 

 Do you have an experience with Parkinson's that you would like to share?

 [SUBMIT YOUR STORY](/living-with-parkinsons/my-pd-story/submit) 

 

 

 

 

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