The 2003 Parkinson's Community,

Alan Bonander Humanitarian Award

 Nan and Tom Abraham, Brenda and Gary Tucker (in bubble)

Nan Abraham and Brenda Tucker received the Alan Bonander award this year. We know that dedication to any cause takes time and commitment, and that time can have it's cost. Here Brenda and Nan's husbands have each written a letter about the work their wives do and what they think of it. We thought you would find them as inspiring as we did.

I want to take a few minutes to send my personal congratulations to Brenda and Nan and to let both of them know how very proud I am of them.   I am so proud of what they have done to help so many people.  Sometimes I don’t think they actually realize just what an impact they have on the Parkinson’s  community.  Not just those with the disease but, as they say, all “People Living With Parkinson’s”.

 In praising one you can’t help but praise both, because as an organization, that is what PLWP has become, many voices, many hands, many hearts.  So as I try to write this I will speak of Brenda but Nan is Brenda and Brenda is Nan…you understand.  I know Tom does.

 Brenda shared her dreams with me several years ago and I listened intently as most would, but it is not in my credentials to be a person of vision past next hunting season.  I suppose it is a curse of sorts but I live with that and more than once it has bitten me on my…well, you know where.  So, when Brenda tells me she is going to come up with some way for Parkinson’s patients to become educated and to be able to help themselves, I wasn’t skeptical.  Why?  Because I’ve known Brenda for some 30 years, most of which has been as man and wife and always as friends.  I know that look she gets.  Some speak of the “fire in the eyes”.  It’s more than that though.  It’s really an aura that surrounds everything.  These auras follow people with true vision and you can distinguish it from BS very easily because there is always a positive outcome at the other end.  It may not look the same going in as it does coming out, but the outcome will be positive and will affect lots of people, almost always in a positive way.  That’s the aura. 

 I hope Brenda knows the part she has played in turning my life toward something better and more meaningful than I ever dreamed of.  Just watching her is a joy.  I see her frustrated, I see her happy, I see her mad, I see her tear up when someone sends a little thank you her way.  I see her beam with pride when PLWP gets just the slightest mention from anyone.  I see her heartbroken when someone tries to take advantage of those who are trying to give all to people who have so little just to steal a little wind for their own sails.

I appreciate Brenda and all she stands for and I am so thankful to see her get this recognition.  I remember what she said when they called to tell her she’d be receiving this award.  She said, “We did it”.  She knows the meaning of teamwork and that only good can come from strength in numbers.  She proves that on a daily basis.  She is truly my hero.

 Those who know Brenda and Nan are very lucky.  They have two people on their side that will go the distance.  They won’t go for them, but will go “with” them, encountering every obstacle together, riding the full length necessary to see them through what ever they encounter.  I’ve seen it, from the inside.

 Congratulations, you both deserve every award available to anyone with compassion, leadership, vision and the ability to make things happen.  I love you both. 

I can’t begin to tell you how very proud I am that Nan and Brenda won the Alan Bonander Award.  How wonderful that these two girls met in the MGH a few years ago and decided that they did not want to sit idly by but rather wanted to do something to help find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. They wanted to help others like themselves with the quality of their lives.  When the two of them get together the synergy is amazing.  I try to stay out of their way. 

My wife Nancy is a remarkable person.  How lucky for me that I have had a lifetime to witness her caring for others and her remarkable listening skills.  Nan doesn’t allow herself to have a negative attitude.  The glass is always half full.  Nan’s dad was a wonderful listener.  I think she inherited this gift from him. 

Long before Parkinson’s I used to kid her about bringing home stray dogs.  She was always there for some friend in need, spending hours on the phone helping them through some problem that they were having.  I wish I had half her patience and listening skills. 

I have always said that the real beauty of PLWP is that it is unparalleled in bringing people together to help each other.  When Nan was first diagnosed there were many emotions that came into play.  The biggest were lack of information and the feeling of being alone.  I can remember going out to a bookstore to get a book about Parkinson’s disease so that we could know more about it.  Look at all the great people we would have never met had it not been for PLWP. 

We are currently involved with our third annual PLWP golf tournament.  This tournament combined with the tournament Patty and Ron hold are the primary funds that allow PLWP to exist.  It truly is a labor of love. Many of my family and friends take a day off and come our to support a great cause out of love for Nan, Brenda and myself.  The day is always emotional because you can really feel the love and caring in the air from the golfers and our wonderful volunteers. 

Parkinson’s is a degenerative disease.  In the relatively short time that PLWP has existed, I have seen Nan and many of her friends get worse. Time is an enemy.  What is needed is a cure.  Nan and Brenda are playing a big part in that fight.  How lucky for all of us that fate allowed the two of them to meet.  And how fitting that the two of them have won this award.      

Tom

A note from Nan and Brenda:

We would like to thank the Parkinson's Unity Walk Board of Directors for this prestigious award. Receiving the Alan Bonander Humanitarian award is a tremendous honor.  Alan Bonander was a remarkable person who was trying to make a difference. He used the Internet to educate and to offer support to all who needed it. His warm heart and profound efforts in the Parkinson's Community will continue to live on through all of us.  For more information, click  Alan Bonander.

We would also like to thank our wonderful husbands for their continued love, support and strength.  But most of all we would like to thank all of you for sharing yourselves with us and being a part of PLWP’s dreams.  Together we can accomplish so much and continue to strive toward maintaining quality in our lives until the cure comes.
Much Love and Hope,
Nan and Brenda