TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — Dawn MacLaughin loves to play pickleball.

She discovered the sport as an outlet after her husband, Wayne, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Through her caregiving experience, she noticed there was a void in the Parkinson’s community. 

“The medication cost is prohibitive. We have had people come to us where their monthly medication bill is $900 to $2,000 a month,” she said.  

Dawn realized the financial hardship that comes with a neurodegenerative, un-curable disease. 

“One day we got our heads together and said, ‘You know, there’s no other nonprofit in Florida that will help people in this way — provide any kind of financial assistance.’ And so we said, ‘Well, why don’t we do that?’”

What You Need To Know

  • Pickleball is increasing in popularity across the United States. It has also become a sport for those with Parkinson’s, with some studies showing it can slow the progression, while improving cognitive function and promoting socialization
  • A local nonprofit, Rise Above Parkinson's, has created the “Pickled for Parkinson’s” tournament to raise funds and create awareness

In 2020, Dawn and Wayne MacLaughlin founded a nonprofit called “Rise above Parkinson’s.” 

“I’m the chief vision officer for ‘Rise above Parkinson’s,’ and I was diagnosed in 2011. One of the beauties of our foundations is the fact that I actually am a patient and that really resonates with many clients,” Wayne said.

Over the past four years, their nonprofit has awarded $100,000 in grants to Floridians struggling with the disease. 

“It’s an amazingly fulfilling journey, but unfortunately, we haven’t been able to meet the need. We are currently putting people on a waitlist due to lack of funds to meet that need and that’s why we need to have an event like this, a fundraiser like this.”

“Rise above Parkinson’s” is hosting “Pickled for Parkinson’s” at the Tarpon Tennis Club in November. 

“This is how we can reach the community. If you introduce people to people who have Parkinson’s at the early stages to pickleball because it is a way that it allows you to engage physically and emotionally and socially — it can be such a benefit and at the same time. I think this tournament, we can help raise awareness of what Parkinson’s really is about.”

Lisa Baldino was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 16 years ago and has recently taken up pickleball.

“Most important things a person with Parkinson’s can do is exercise. It’s been proven scientifically, and it’s sort of to me, it was kind of a no-brainer.”

She’s also helping raise awareness for the tournament. 

“The number one non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s is apathy so people I think don’t want to be seen with this disease. This is it something that is very visible. If you’re in public, people look at you,” Baldino said.  

They hope the pickleball tournament will also create a social outlet, something Wayne knows is a lifeline. 

“It’s really a connection. It’s so important because there’s a big social aspect. There’s a big emotional aspect, having a disease like this,” Wayne said.

They’re playing for awareness, fundraising, and above all, support.  

“We have their back.”