Q: How many times can you jump out of an airplane and parachute to earth – in twelve hours? To raise awareness of and money for Parkinson’s disease?
A: One hundred and one times, if you’re Kevin Burkart, a new inductee into the Parkinson Pantheon.
Kevin’s father has PD, and to raise money and awareness, Kevin jumped 101 times in twelve hours, garnering $128,000 for the National Parkinson Foundation.
But there’s more: Kevin is paralyzed in one arm, as a result of an accident many years ago. Here’s an excerpt from an ABC news story:
“He perseveres and is generous, and he gives himself, a lot of himself,” said Kevin’s fiance, Laura.
Kevin perseveres through more than just jumping. More than what most athletes will ever experience.
“Your viewership should know I had a spinal cord injury from a snowmobile accident four years ago,” said Burkart. “So I am paralyzed in my left arm here, so that makes me an adaptive skydiver.”
101 jumps in twelve hours using one arm, all for his father and the fight.
“It’s inspiring,” said Lois Burkart. “I guess what I find especially inspiring is the number of people who says he inspires them. And that makes me feel good and proud.”
“Regardless, what I am doing here today is a lot easier than living with Parkinson’s disease,” said Burkart.
View the inspiring video here:
And now, um, let’s all “jump to it….”
