Drive Toward a Cure® brings “An Evening of Music & Motion” to Reno’s National Automobile Museum
- The National Automobile Museum will be hosting “An Evening of Music & Motion” with non-profit Drive Toward a Cure® to benefit the Parkinson Support Center of Northern Nevada – with special guests singer/actress/producer Vanessa Williams and entertainer and Parkinson’s advocate Rasheda Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali. For tickets – www.drivetowardacure.org/music-and-motion-reno-2024/
Vanessa Williams, Rasheda Ali Walsh and Shelby Hall Join Together to Benefit Parkinson Support Center of Northern Nevada
RENO, Nevada – February 13, 2024 – This April 18, 2024, the cars at the National Automobile Museum in Reno will be joined by stars for “An Evening of Music & Motion,” bringing awareness to and raising funds for those living with Parkinson’s Disease. National non-profit foundation Drive Toward a Cure is bringing a multitude of automotive culture and talent together to benefit the Parkinson Support Center of Northern Nevada (PSCNN) – a center for support services and educational resources for the more than 5,000 Northern Nevada residents afflicted with the chronic disease.
Guests for the evening will have full access to the expansive Museum featuring prominent cars owned by performing artists as well as those driven by legendary racers who were challenged by Parkinson’s. The halo car for the evening is a 1952 Jaguar C-Type, (chassis XKC-007, the first C-Type Imported into the United States) having earned notable victory and podium finishes when driven by legendary gentleman driver and America’s first Formula One Champion Phil Hill. Hill succumbed to his own challenges with Parkinson’s in 2008, but he was a friend and inspiration to Drive Toward a Cure.
The evening will be highlighted by a 45-minute panel discussion moderated by globally renowned singer/actress/producer Vanessa Williams, and include panelists not only regarded for their professional achievements in the entertainment and automotive communities, but also, their personal advocacy for Parkinson’s.
Included in the conversation will be Rasheda Ali Walsh — known as much for her acting and writing as she is for being the daughter of Muhammad Ali, the famed, undisputed heavyweight boxing champion who also lived with Parkinson’s for more than 30 years. Rasheda remains an advocate for Parkinson’s, especially through her ties to the Muhammad Ali Foundation at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Az.
Professional third-generation off-road driver and adventure creator Shelby Hall will also be sharing the stage. Shelby is the granddaughter and former teammate of the off-road legend and pioneer, Rod Hall, an Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame honoree and, among many accomplishments and records set, is noted as the winningest off-road racer in history. Rod is the only person to compete in the first 50 Baja 1000 races, with his final performance at age 80 while challenged by Parkinson’s disease.
The open discussion is expected to reveal the passion and pure emotion we all share when it comes to music and motion. According to Deb Pollack, founder of Drive Toward a Cure, “from the sound of a song, to the rumble of a hearty V8, there’s a certain nostalgia that grabs us from within, filling us with a bond in which we all can relate – however it’s the ‘motion’ part that brings us here for this event – because motion is more than transportation, it’s a form of ‘mobility’ and that brings us back to Parkinson’s.”
Through the love of the automobile and the bond of Cars and Camaraderie™ nationwide Drive Toward a Cure has raised more than $1 million and contributed to Parkinson’s research and patient care within organizations ranging from the Michael J Fox Foundation and the more than 35 Centers of Excellence for the Parkinson Foundation to grassroots programs for nutrition and fitness including local clinics and Rock Steady Boxing facilities.
Programs ranging from multi-day drives to virtual wine tasting events, BBQs, on-track open touring laps and poker runs, have all provided a means to create lasting events and opportunities that can raise funds to enrich the lives of those living with Parkinson’s.
Pollack noted aligning with the Parkinson Support Center of Northern Nevada opens the doors for an incredible community to help benefit those that can’t often help themselves. Proceeds from the event, which will be raised through donations, silent auction items and sponsorships will be provided to create a growing resource for support groups, educational programming and local advocacy efforts.
“We want to show the more than 5,000 people with Parkinson’s disease in the Northern Nevada area that we care,” said Dr. Mindy Lokshin, Board Chair and Acting Director for PSCNN.
Tickets for the event, and sponsorship opportunities, can be found at: www.drivetowardacure.org/music-and-motion-reno-2024
About the National Automobile Museum:
One of America’s Top 10 Automobile Museums and named #1 Museum in Reno by TripAdvisor, the National Automobile Museum showcases more than 240 remarkable automobiles. It features theatre presentations and docent tours through 105,000 square feet of galleries, exhibits, vibrant street scenes, and accompanying artifacts that bring displays to life. It is committed to providing educational and engaging experiences for visitors of all ages. For more information about the National Automobile Museum, visit www.automuseum.org or call (775) 333-9300.
About Drive Toward a Cure:
National non-profit Foundation Drive Toward a Cure raises funds and awareness for Parkinson’s Disease research AND patient care by expanding our message throughout the automotive community at large. Inspired by the camaraderie found within the car culture, the organization’s mission benefits equally from both enthusiast communities and industry professionals. Drive Toward a Cure events harness enthusiasm for cars and driving and turn that power into support for ongoing work to improve the lives of those living with Parkinson’s, as well as the research that will hopefully one day lead to a cure. Since 2016, Drive Toward a Cure has raised more than $1 million dollars to support BOTH research AND patient care.
Drive Toward a Cure is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation supporting beneficiaries including The Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Parkinson’s Foundation, and numerous regional Centers of Excellence for Parkinson’s. Grants are provided through Drive Toward a Cure’s ‘Access to Care’ and ‘Special Assistance’ grant funds, created to support challenged individuals and specific directive programs. For donations, sponsorship and event registration please view www.drivetowardacure.org
About Parkinson Support Center of Northern Nevada:
The Parkinson Support Center of Northern Nevada (PSCNN) is a 501.c.3 nonprofit organization founded in 2021, during the peak of the Covid19 pandemic, and is dedicated to helping the over 5,000 patients and their families affected by Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in northern Nevada.
PSCNN exists so no one has to face Parkinson’s alone, providing support for those affected by Parkinson’s, creating opportunities for the local Parkinson community to engage and connect, and providing information to the public to raise awareness of the disease. The Goal is to connect people to the information, support services, programs, and activities they need to enhance wellness and live an active, engaged life.
PSCNN is a 100% volunteer organization and is the only organization in the region serving the Parkinson’s disease (PD) community. It was created with the vision of meeting the needs of PD population by leveraging volunteer passion to provide wrap-around services so that the Parkinson’s community can feel embraced and supported. The Board is led by Chair Dr. Mindy Lokshin, a family physician with multiple family members with PD, who has now dedicated her career to helping people with PD. The Vice Chair is Nicole Mueller who previously was the coordinator for the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA) Information and Resource Center in Reno. All remaining Board members either have PD themselves or have a loved one with the disease. It is a 100% giving Board of passionate advocates.
The Parkinson Support Center of Northern Nevada (PSCNN) is the only organization serving this population in the Sierra region. PSCNN is an all-volunteer nonprofit that provides support programs, education and advocacy. You can learn more at www.pscnn.org
About Parkinson’s Disease:
Affecting nearly one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the United States. The degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells can cause abnormal brain activity, leading to tremors, stiffness, rigidity, and impaired movement, as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson’s and 90,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.
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