Ride with Larry – An Inspirational Parkinson’s Documentary
“If you love life, and have a life that you love, you’ll fight for it.”
-Betty Smith
Parkinson’s disease affects over 1.5 milion people in the United States. Those who are afflicted carry the burden of a hidden disease, one that saddles each diagnosis with a story of eventual decline and the prognosis of a wheelchair. Depression and shame can quickly follow. However, there is another way. For some people there can exist a great empowerment after their acceptance of Parkinson’s, a chance to prove one’s worth to the world and show that the value of a life is not defined by any diagnosis but by the way in which one confronts and surmounts these obstacles.
One such example is the powerful story of Larry Smith, a retired police captain, now a beloved small town baker in South Dakota, who has had Parkinson’s disease for the last 20 years. His remarkable spirit is uplifting and, despite his condition, has had a remarkable impact on his town of Vermillion, and beyond.
Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s yet, Larry doesn’t give up. He fights every day to live the best life he can and enriches the lives of everyone he touches. It’s his courage and tenacity that allow him battle Parkinson’s in the best possible way: keeping his body active and mind positive. Larry proves that the sometimes the best cure is living life to its fullest.
Larry’s daily bike rides have had such an incredible impact on both his mind and body that he has decided it’s time to spread the message. Together with his family and community, Larry will ride across South Dakota in the spring of 2011, pushing his limits and expanding the boundary of possibilities for those with Parkinson’s disease.
Each leg of Larry’s journey will be filmed for a documentary, Ride with Larry. Weaved amongst this narrative will be an intimate portrait of the everyday battle against Parkinson’s, the voice therapy, exercise routine, medications, treatments, and the community love that makes it all possible and worthwhile.
This documentary is being made because, as filmmakers, we want to make a difference in the lives of those with Parkinson’s disease, family members, and caretakers. Each one of the filmmakers involved also has a personal story of Parkinson’s in their family. Beyond Parkinson’s disease, anyone facing a life altering illness can find inspiration in Ride with Larry.
We’d like to invite you to be a part of this important cause which will help improve the lives of many people.
To learn more about Ride with Larry and how you can help make this powerful project a reality, please click on the link below and help spread the message.
Kickstarter Campaign: http://kck.st/faTC3H
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ridewithlarry
Twitter: @ridewithlarry
