Richard Huckabee is a passionate Parkinson’s advocate, global speaker and retired Executive Manager who lives by two powerful mottos: “Get Better Every Day” and “Every Day I Fight.” Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in 2013, he transformed adversity into action—turning his journey into a global mission of hope, movement and momentum.

A devoted husband to Angela and proud father, Richard blends his love for global travel, hiking and photography with relentless advocacy. From hot air balloon safaris in Africa to exploring the pyramids, he proves that for him, Parkinson’s does not limit possibility, but fuels purpose.

Honored with the 2023 and 2024 President’s Bronze Volunteer Service Award, signed by President Joe Biden, Richard serves as a Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador and Research Advocate, an InMotion Ambassador, and a member of the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) Patient Council along with various other non-profit volunteer groups. He has led Ohio delegates on Capitol Hill advocating for increased federal funding for Parkinson’s research and has spoken to thousands, including at the World Parkinson Congress.

Richard is a powerful champion of inclusion in research. He was instrumental in encouraging the Black community to participate in PD GENEration: Powered by the Parkinson’s Foundation, helping ensure genetic research reflects the diversity of the PD community. His advocacy continues to open doors and build trust between underrepresented communities and leading research institutions.

“I want people with Parkinson’s to know that participating in PD GENEration is free, private, doesn’t involve any medications and is a way of contributing to a finding a cure someday. When you get your genetic testing results, you can review them and ask questions with a health professional.” – Richard

Exercise has been central to his journey from day one. In 2013, he participated in a dance drumming research study for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners. From this study, the members of the group formed into a source of invaluable support for Richard and his wife. They continue to meet for breakfast as the “Breakfast Club” and enjoy hikes together.

Additionally, Richard has participated in hundreds of research initiatives and groundbreaking clinical trials, including Cleveland Clinic’s Augmented Reality study, an experience that led to his appearance in the 2025 Cleveland Clinic Super Bowl commercial spotlighting Parkinson’s research.

Whether mentoring those newly diagnosed, collaborating with researchers, speaking internationally or lacing up his hiking boots, Richard inspires others to rise, move and believe in a bright future.

Explore ways to get involved with Parkinson’s research today. Visit our Join A Study page and learn more about PD GENEration, the Parkinson’s Foundation genetics study that offers genetic testing and counseling at no cost to participants.

I have always been involved in caring for people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by elderly relatives, including my grandfather, who was diagnosed with PD at a relatively early age.

I witnessed how important mobility was for my grandfather’s well-being and how my grandmother was a force in his life. She was his strongest advocate. One memory I have of her support is when she would have me take him to the local pool to work on his strength and balance in the water.

Later, I was privileged to support one of my uncles who also had PD. I remember how my aunt assisted him and how music was instrumental in his movement. Memories of him dancing with my cousin in the hospital hallway will always stay with me.

As I started to think about my own career, I did not initially plan to have a career in medicine. I originally studied health policy and was interested in gerontology (the study of aging). I was exposed to the policy side, but I found that the work — while important — did not allow me the human connections that I enjoyed while working in college at an adult day care center.

Once I decided to go to medical school, I was drawn to physical medicine and rehabilitation where the focus was on restoration and maximizing function.

When I joined Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in 2018, the director of the Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders (PDMD) Program asked if I would be one of the clinicians in the program, and I have been a part of the PDMD clinic ever since. Today, I serve as the medical director of the program, and I am proud to work with the PD community each day.

Our work in the PDMD Program is built on an interdisciplinary approach. Our team of physicians; physical, occupational and speech therapists; psychologists; and exercise physiologists all work together to identify customized personal recommendations for our patients.

We have a unique system with multiple levels of care: inpatient rehabilitation, day rehabilitation and outpatient care, as well as functional fitness classes to help meet this diverse population’s functional needs. We recognize that not everyone has the same level of support at home, and we tailor our care accordingly.

In addition to our clinical practice, we also collaborate on PD research at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. We have rehabilitation outcome measures based on our extensive patient data. Together with Northwestern University’s neurologists and scientists, who have collected genetic data on people with PD, we are hoping to determine which patients with PD may respond well to exercise therapies versus those who may need an alternative approach.

Being able to tailor therapy based on a patient’s genetics is exciting for the future of PD treatment.

Outside the clinic, members of our team are involved in various PD organizations on local, national and international levels. We will be sending a team to the World Parkinson’s Congress this May.

Additionally, we have a team of patients and clinicians, called the “Parkinson’s Peak Performers,” who participate in Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s SkyRise Chicago each year and recently participated in the Parkinson’s Revolution ride to raise funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation.

What keeps me motivated in my work are the relationships my team has built with our patients over time. We meet many of our patients early in their disease, and we collaborate with them to help maintain and optimize their function over the course of their PD progression.

Every patient and their care partners are unique and bring something special to each visit. Whether it be suggestions about our current programs or ones they would like to see in the future, we are fortunate to have an advisory board of patients and care partners who provide us with ideas and feedback.

Once again, I always go back to my childhood and how my grandmother cared for my grandfather with PD. She often said, “It’s about the quality of life, not just quantity.” I remember her mantra daily. It serves as a reminder to me that members of the PD community are resilient and always looking for ways to improve their quality of life.

Find expert PD care near you. Explore centers in our Global Care Network or contact our Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) or Helpline@Parkinson.org to build your care team and find tailored PD specialists.

I’m inspired to work with individuals living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) because I see how profoundly exercise can change the trajectory of their lives.

In my role as manager of adaptive fitness programs at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, I oversee, develop and continuously evolve exercise programs for people living with neurological and orthopedic conditions, including Parkinson’s.

When people learn to connect their mind and body and move with intention, exercise becomes a tool for independence, and that transformation in their mindset is what keeps me committed to this work.

My primary goals are to make sure that every person has access to safe, appropriately challenging exercise — and to help them create long-term, consistent exercise habits. I work with people across the entire spectrum of PD, from those in their 40s with early-onset PD to those in very advanced stages who require significant physical support.

For people with PD, exercise truly is medicine … and the benefits are numerous:

• Regular, properly prescribed movement helps people with PD manage symptoms such as bradykinesia (slowness of movement), hypokinesia (reduced speed of muscle movement), rigidity (stiffness), postural instability, gait and balance changes.
• Working with experienced exercise professionals enables individuals with PD to gain symptom awareness and learn practical exercise strategies to use at home.
• Specialized fitness training, as well as group exercise, provides tremendous mental and emotional support to help people feel empowered.

While many individuals with PD know exercise is essential, they may not know how to structure it or how often to exercise. Through our fitness center at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, they don’t have to figure that out on their own. 

With 24 weekly classes, our participants can attend multiple sessions per week (or even multiple times per day) for a well-rounded exercise program that includes balance, endurance, strength, progressive resistance training, boxing, Tai Chi, flexibility and mobility training. In addition, I collaborate closely with our hospital’s Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders program, and all of our classes integrate PD-specific movement strategies and symptom education.

Our fitness center also is equipped with specialized tools, including an anti-gravity treadmill for people with PD to work on improving their gait, speed and power, as well as overhead harness systems for those in later stages to work on standing balance, walking and postural control without fear of falling.

As a result of consistent exercise, the people I meet through my work at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab don’t just get stronger; they regain confidence.

I’ve watched people go from identifying themselves by their diagnosis to identifying themselves by what they can do: traveling again, dancing, getting up from the floor independently, participating in community events, navigating airports, walking long distances or going on challenging heights. They tell us what they were able to accomplish because they felt steadier and more prepared.

As people living with PD get started on an exercise program, my advice is to pause before defining your future based on what you read online.

I often see people come in overwhelmed and frightened by not knowing what to expect in the years ahead. Instead of focusing on what might be lost, I encourage people to focus on all that is possible. When people feel informed, supported and physically capable, they often regain a sense of control, hope and possibility.

At the end of the day, the PD community taught me the power of showing up for one another. There is something uniquely strong about this population — building lasting friendships, encouraging each other through hard days, celebrating small wins and advocating not just for themselves, but for the entire community. The PD community reminds me that progress is not just physical — it’s emotional as well.

Learn more about exercise and find a local PD-tailored exercise class through your nearest Parkinson’s Foundation Chapter. Find your Parkinson’s Foundation Chapter here.

Fidel Guzman’s PD Story

I came to this country over 30 years ago from Mexico and have worked various jobs throughout my life to support my family. My true passion has always been music. I come from a family of musicians and have been blessed to be part of several bands here in the U.S., where I played the bajo sexto, or the Mexican 12-string guitar, and sang.

I have two daughters, a son, and two granddaughters who motivate me to face the challenges of my diagnosis. My oldest daughter noticed my early Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms and helped me find a neurologist who gave me the official diagnosis five years ago. Since then, my daughter has made sure I stay active every day and enrolled me in Rock Steady Boxing, which has helped me feel my best.

I didn't think I was going to enjoy it, but movement has truly been like medicine for me. The Foundation says that the type of exercise you enjoy doing most, as long as it's safe, is the best exercise for you.

I also enjoy dancing with my daughters whenever I can. Music is a kind of therapy for me, and it transports me to a place of pure joy. Even my eldest daughter says that when we dance together, my balance is at its best and mobility seems to come to me easier.

I love spending time with my children and granddaughters, and I'm so grateful for their support.

Read Fidel’s story in Spanish

Myrella Guzman’s PD Story

When my father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s five years ago I knew I needed to find out every single thing about Parkinson’s. My father is the most hardworking and loving person I know, and I did everything in my power to help him navigate this disease.

I decided to pursue physical therapy as my career so I could give him the best care possible myself. After graduating and passing my boards I began working with Parkinson’s patients in various settings and came across the realization that movement is medicine.

During this time, I moved in with my significant other five hours away from my dad, which made it difficult to keep my dad motivated and moving. I signed him up for Rock Steady Boxing and he thrived in this class! I noticed such a positive change in his mood and physical state. It was thanks to the Parkinson’s Foundation that I was able to find these classes.

Since his diagnosis, I’ve become inspired, every day, to help people like my dad and their families. I’ve made it my mission to educate not only my patients about the importance of the Parkinson’s Foundation official exercise recommendations, but also my colleagues. Every day alongside other therapists, I try to create a space where the most up to date guidance, professional training and resources are available to everyone with PD who may come through the door.  

As a first-generation Mexican-American, I also know the challenges adult children may face navigating the healthcare system in both English and Spanish. Having resources available in both languages like those the Parkinson’s Foundation provides, has been a lifesaver.

There seems to be a stigma in the Hispanic community about sharing medical hardships, and oftentimes many people with PD — like my father — feel isolated. This is why building community has been such an important part of my father’s journey, and as advocate, part of mine as well. Educating our community about Parkinson's symptoms and treatments is a job I take very seriously.

I am thankful for my siblings who always check in on Dad and for technology which helps me keep in touch with my father daily. I make the most of my monthly trips to take him to his appointments and check in on his progress in person.

I love you, Dad. You are my best friend, and I would do anything to make sure you’re happy and healthy!

Read Myrella’s story in Spanish

Exercise is essential for people living with Parkinson’s. Find your nearest Parkinson’s Foundation Chapter or call our Helpline at 1-800-473-4636 to explore exercise and wellness PD exercise classes near you.