The Preston’s of Narragansett, RI will return from an eight-month adventure that launched on September 28, 2013 aboard their 48-foot custom built Sabre motor boat to Turks and Caicos to raise funds and awareness for the American Parkinson Disease Association.

The Rhode Island Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association invites you to join a special reception on June 5 to celebrate Bob & Becky’s incredible adventure and congratulate them on their courageous journey. The event will take place at the 1149 Restaurant located at 1149 Division Street in Warwick, RI beginning at 5:30 PM.

After Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in 2007, he launched the first “Optimism Tour,” a 5,000-mile round trip excursion from northern Maine to the Florida Keys.

Bob tells his story. “I enjoyed a very successful 33-year career building a large insurance organization before retiring in 2011, at age 53, the very top of my career, due to the effects of Parkinson’s disease.” Bob found irony in the fact that while his career was ending, he unwittingly discovered a new life’s calling, to support Parkinson’s patients and help fund a cure.

This passion, drive and focus have lead Bob to a multi-year odyssey called the “Optimism Can Take You Anywhere Tour,” which has three guiding principles:

• To PROMOTE awareness of Parkinson’s disease and its effect on more than 1 million Americans.
• To DEMONSTRATE in words and actions the importance of a positive outlook and positive health benefits in fighting any chronic illness. In fact, Bob doesn’t say, “I have PD,” instead he says, “PD has me, and it should be very afraid.”
• To FUND a cure! To date, Bob’s optimism and determination have raised more than $250,000 for the American Parkinson Disease Association to Ease the Burden – Find the Cure.

The Optimism Tour took Bob and Becky from Annapolis, MD down the coast to North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, and Stuart, Florida where they enjoyed a festive holiday season. Through January, they traversed Florida on the water way canal and Lake Okeechobee arriving in Sarasota mid-January. February and March took Bob and Becky to Marco Island and exploration of the Everglades. The final leg of this exciting boating adventure found them navigating Little Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Alturas, and Turks and Caicos through April and May.

A suggested $10 donation will be accepted at the door. Appetizers will be served with a cash bar. For more information about this event contact Mary Ellen Thibodeau by phone 401-823-5700 or email MThibodeau@Kentri.org.

To learn more about the Rhode Island chapter of APDA visit apdaparkinson.org/community/rhode-island/

Donations to support the “Optimism Tour” can be made at http://tinyurl.com/OptimismBobPreston