I want to introduce one of my very best friends that I have met because I have Parkinson’s Disease. I am sure that I never would have met him otherwise.
We met a few years at a support group gathering at the Muhammad Ali Center. We were about the same age and we had the same interests and I really wanted him as a friend.

I soon learned that Brian’s family had created the Baehr Challenge, an obstacle course/fun run charity event to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. I knew I wanted to be involved and so I expressed interest. The event was to be held on Sunday in early April. I had chosen not to participate in events on Sunday due to my religious beliefs and had to tell Brian that I wanted to participate but wouldn’t be because of that and he completely understood. As it got closer to event I had a strong feeling that I should participate. I called Brian on the Friday before the event and told him and asked if there was any last minute assignment that he needed help with. He said that he had ordered some popup canopies with the Baehr Challenge logo on them and that due to him getting the message from UPS and the timing of it all that the canopies were still at the UPS facility and they would be closed until Monday, the day after the event.

Since I worked in the trucking industry he thought I might have a contact that may be able to get them. He told me that I was the man for the assignment and I told him it would take an answer to a prayer in order get them. Well I know a few people who work for UPS and I contacted them and didn’t get the help I needed other than one said that I could go to their terminal and see if anyone was there. So I did. They were located near Knight Transportation where I work. I went there and found out from the security guard that they were indeed closed. I told him the predicament to see if he could call somebody to help me. He said it may be my lucky day because there was a truck rodeo that a couple of the managers were at and they maybe coming back and if I waited I may be able to get one to help me. So I waited and one did come back. I introduced myself and explained the circumstance but he didn’t want to help me and left to go home. I was heartbroken!

So I drove over to our terminal and somewhere while either waiting or whatever I did say a prayer asking for Heavenly Father to bless me with someone who would be directed to help me. I drove back to UPS and sure enough there was another man there. I told him why I was there and I even had the tracking number for the shipment. He looked at it and he said that he didn’t know if they were still in a trailer or if they had been unloaded. If they hadn’t been unloaded yet there would be no way I could get them that day. But he said they would look. After what seemed like eternity I heard the sound of a forklift start up and soon he appeared with a pallet of 12 boxes of canopies! I was so excited as we loaded them into my Honda Element which they fit in there just perfectly. I thanked the man for being so kind to help. Just as I was ready to leave the first man that had turned me down pulled in. He had got down the road aways and had been prompted to turn around and come back to help me as he felt it was important. I told him it all happened as an answer to a prayer. I was so grateful as I drove over to Brian’s house and reported that the mission was accomplished. I then had the opportunity to meet his beautiful family, Kaye his wife, and his three sons, Matt, Preston, Riley.

I felt Heavenly Father really wanted me to be involved with the Baehr Challenge and get to know the Baehr family as I have over the years. I have participated with my family in every Baehr Challenge since then and have loved every bit of it.

The Baehr family is a great example of living well with Parkinson’s.

I love Brian and Kaye and their sons and their families and am grateful for their friendship. I am proud of what they have accomplished over the years with the Baehr Challenge and what it does for the Parkinson’s community. Keep going strong Brian!

You can check it out at www.baehrchallenge.org

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