My PD Story

Steve Fischlin’s journey with Parkinson’s disease (PD) started with a tremor in his foot, followed by his right arm not swinging while he walked. His next symptom was a stoic expression that left his wife, Lisa, asking if he wasn’t having fun — she noticed he wasn’t smiling. Two appointments with different neurologists and a series of tests confirmed Steve had PD and left him and his family with more questions than answers.

One thing Steve did know was that exercise is proven to help ease Parkinson’s symptoms, so he got moving.

“That first year he was walking every day,” Lisa said. “Rain or shine, he went out walking. His friends at work made sure he walked during his lunch hour. We walked together, our neighbor walked with him, it was a consistent routine.”

All this walking made Steve and Lisa wonder if there was a race or walk that supported the Parkinson’s community, which led them to Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson’s.

“We immediately got on the committee and started making connections,” Lisa said. “We were both working at the time and had a fairly large Moving Day team, and we were one of the top fundraising teams for the last four or five years for Sacramento. It was a great way for all of us to come together and support Steve and his diagnosis.”

Steve retired in 2020 to focus on his health, and Lisa joined him when she retired in 2023. They wanted to dive deeper into the Parkinson’s community and became members of the Parkinson’s Foundation California Chapter Board. They continued fundraising for Moving Day, but they wanted to do more.

They created the non-profit, FISCH 4 Parkinson’s, a Steven J. Fischlin Charity, dedicated to raising awareness and supporting people with Parkinson’s. They launched a signature fundraising event through the non-profit, the annual FISCH 4 Parkinson’s Golf Tournament. The first tournament, held in August 2024, raised more than $26,000, which they donated to the Parkinson’s Foundation. The event returned in August 2025, raising $35,000 to support the Foundation.

“In the second year we were able to expand the tournament, get sponsorships and really reach out to the wider Parkinson’s community beyond our family and friends,” Lisa said. “It took some time to explain what we were trying to accomplish, and for Steve to feel comfortable telling his story and making connections.”

This tournament has helped Steve and Lisa support the Parkinson’s Foundation and has helped them create their own support network of people near them in the Parkinson’s community.

“Last year we had several golfers at the tournament who had Parkinson’s,” Steve said. “Now we meet up with them and their wives three or four times a year. We get dinner and catch up and talk about how we’re doing and things about Parkinson’s we can all relate to. We’re always trying to find more people to join our group.”

Steve and Lisa are passionate about supporting the Parkinson’s Foundation because of the resources and information they have received.

“When you find out you or a loved one has Parkinson’s, you have to just start digging in and learning about it,” Lisa said. “We use the Parkinson’s Foundation website, attend webinars and Steve participated in PD GENEration because his kids were wondering if this was something they could be passed down.”

“The Foundation doesn’t just support people with Parkinson’s, it supports the whole family and care partners, and that’s so important.” - Lisa

Steve and Lisa have also found a great deal of support through the University of California (UC) Davis Health Center for Movement Disorders & Neurorestoration, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence. In 2024, the center opened a multidisciplinary clinic that brings together care providers from several specialties, including neurology, speech therapy, physical therapy, nutrition and more.

“To be able to have one stop and ask all these experts questions and find support is incredible,” Lisa said. “We’ve made really strong connections through UC Davis, and we’re able to talk to them throughout the year. This clinic is possible because of the Parkinson’s Foundation, and it makes us feel like we are never alone.”

The next FISCH 4 Parkinson’s golf tournament is scheduled for August 10, 2026 at Catta Verdera Country Club in Lincoln, CA. Steve and Lisa’s goal is to raise $40,000 this year, and are excited that 100% of the money will go to the Parkinson’s Foundation, with 50% going to the multidisciplinary clinic they have found so much support through.

“Right now, the multidisciplinary clinic is only open on Tuesdays, and it runs on donation, so we want to make a difference and support it,” Lisa said. “We’re proud to support the Parkinson’s Foundation and everything it does for people with Parkinson’s, while also supporting this resource right in our own community. We want to be loud about this disease, share our story and raise money to find better treatments and a cure.”

“I’ve met other people who have Parkinson’s, and I will always talk to anyone about it,” Steve said. “It’s a small world and we want to meet with people, do whatever we can to help. We want to talk about it, and we want to help find a cure.”

Create your own Parkinson’s fundraiser! Visit Parkinson.org/DIY to get started.