Galloway Township girl holds Parkinson's disease fundraiser for father

LORI MCINTYRE

April 13, 2016 

Will McIntyre with his daughter, Abby McIntyre, both of Galloway Township. Will was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's Disease in 2013. Abby, now 11, created a team to raise money for organizations that help people with the disease.

Soon-to-be 12-year-old Abby McIntyre, of Galloway Township, will see Disney’s “The Jungle Book” on its opening weekend Saturday in Mays Landing with a crowd of other individuals and families.

But the main reason they’ll all be gathered at 10 a.m. at Regal Hamilton Commons Stadium 14 is to raise money in honor of Parkinson’s disease awareness and McIntyre’s father, Will. The McIntyre family hopes to increase awareness about the disease and raise money toward a cure.

Will McIntyre was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease in October 2013 when Abby was just 9 years old.

Lori McIntyre said she and her husband explained what was going on to their only child, and Abby learned more about it as she got older.

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurological condition that affects movement. About 1 million Americans have it and the average age of diagnosis is 62. People younger than that age, such as Will, are diagnosed with young-onset, according to the National Parkinson Foundation.

Last year, Abby went to her mother with the mission to raise money that would help families touched by Parkinson’s disease and to help fund research toward treatment.

“She’s still young, so I was surprised when she came up to me one day and said, ‘Mommy I really wanted to do something to help people with Parkinson’s and find a cure for Daddy,’” Lori said.

The McIntyres created Team Sparklies last year shortly after Abby brought her first donation to the Parkinson Council, a nonprofit organization that invests in research, education and programs in local areas for Parkinson’s disease.

Abby has previously raised money by participating in the Avalon Flip Flop Walk and A Walk to Stamp Out Parkinson’s in Philadelphia.

Saturday’s event will be held with help from A Perfect Journey, Lori McIntyre's travel agency in Galloway Township.

Tickets for the movie are available online until Thursday with all the proceeds donated to the Parkinson Council.

Contact: 609-272-7022

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