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Sister's Plight Inspires Man's Yearlong Trek By Mike Cassidy - Mercury News Posted on Wed, Aug. 04, 2004 What are big sisters for, if not to inspire? Everyone wishes it were something other than Jackie Farrar's Parkinson's disease that had inspired brother Nick Baggarly to drive around the world, but there you are. She has it, and he's doing it, along with his wife, Chanda, and six others. ``I think it's giving her some hope,'' Nick said. He was on the phone from Laos, the 22nd country he has driven through on the yearlong mission to raise awareness and money for Parkinson's disease. Yes, he wanted to explain how this all got started and how it would help, but first he had a question. ``How's the weather back there?'' Nick, a Los Gatos software engineer, asked. ``We miss home like you wouldn't believe.'' When Jackie was first diagnosed with the progressive neurological disease, Nick felt helpless. Jackie, her husband and four kids lived in Southern California, and Nick was up here. ``I'm not a doctor. I'm not a scientist,'' Nick, 36, said. ``I'm an engineer, a software engineer, who likes to drive.'' Why not a drive-athon? Yes, drive. He and Chanda had driven around the world before -- going east to west. As they worried about Jackie, Chanda thought about that 1999 trip, which they made for fun. ``My wife said, `We like to drive around the world. Why don't we do a drive-athon?' '' That's the way Nick and Jackie's family works. The eight siblings and their various attachments remain there for each other. It is a bond shared by many families and envied by many others. ``I just started bawling,'' Jackie said of the day she heard of Nick's plan. ``I was just overwhelmed that my little brother, who I just picked on all my life, that he'd repay me with this kindness.'' It took some planning -- driving 32,000 miles through 32 countries. Nick and Chanda lined up sponsors, including Land Rover, which donated four used SUVs. They connected with the Parkinson's Institute in Sunnyvale. They recruited a team willing to invest $10,000 each to ensure that all money raised ($50,000 so far) went directly to Parkinson's research. And they launched a Web site, http://www.drivearoundtheworld.org , complete with the route and details on how to contribute. The team back home The team has been on the road -- driving north to south this time -- for eight months. Jackie and her kids -- ages 5, 7, 9 and 11 -- track the team's travels on a globe. Her Parkinson's has progressed from a twitch in her pinkie to stiffness and shaking on her left and right sides. ``I call myself the shaky mom,'' she says. The day we spoke, Jackie, 38, had trouble talking about the disease, which usually affects older people. It had been a hectic day. She was working on getting off one medication. She felt like crying. ``Occasionally, they'll grab my hand,'' she says of her kids and her shaking. ``And I think they think they can stop it if they grab my hand and squeeze really tight.'' And then I felt like crying. But Jackie Farrar is living life being a mom, shuttling kids, keeping in touch with her brothers and sisters. And she is grateful for plenty -- her family, her faith, the efforts of scientists looking for a cure. And for the fact that sometimes even little brothers can be an inspiration. Contact Mike Cassidy at [log in to unmask] or (408) 920-5536 SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, CA ... Wed, Aug. 04, 2004 http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/9316038.htm Reference: Drive Around the World Hits the Road on Global Quest To Combat Parkinson's Disease http://grassrootsconnection.com/landrover_world.htm LONGITUDE Expedition Parkinson's Fundraising FAQ http://www.drivearoundtheworld.com/parkinsons/pd_donateFAQ.html The LONGITUDE Expedition http://www.drivearoundtheworld.com/ The LATITUDE Expedition http://www.aroundtheworld1999.com/ * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn