2025 Portland to Coast Team

Amy (a self-proclaimed superwoman) is a wife, mother to three active boys, and a person with young onset Parkinson’s disease. She has been living with PD for nine years and during that time has used her resources to raise awareness and be a representative for the young onset Parkinson’s community. She works with the Brian Grant Foundation as their community liaison and is currently busy planning the 2025 YOPD-CON. When she is not exercising, working, or caring for her family you’ll find her traveling, reading, or knitting. This is her second Portland to Coast, she loved her first one so much she came back for more!

Claudia has been living with early onset Parkinson's disease since 2016. She actively participates in support groups focused on women with Parkinson's and has taken part in studies on this disease. Additionally, she is a lead ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation, aiming to increase the visibility of this condition within the Hispanic community. Claudia recognizes the importance of consistent high-intensity exercise to slow the progression of the disease, which is why she boxes regularly, walks daily, dances whenever she can, and hikes in the mountains with her incredibly fun and supportive group of friends by her side. Her passion lies in helping and motivating her community, which is why she coaches fellow boxers at the PD Rebel Fit Club. You can follow Claudia’s inspiring, funny and motivating Instagram posts @tinwoman_inaction. 

Gigi was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2017—rounding out an 18-month period she jovially calls her “medical trifecta.” Before her PD diagnosis, Gigi had recently undergone spinal fusion surgery and fought breast cancer. Through it all, Gigi remains fiercely optimistic. She enjoys pilates, hiking, skiing, and time spent with her husband, three children, and their dog. She is a member of OHSU’s Parkinson’s Patient Advisory Committee. Gigi walked with the Brian Grant Foundation’s Portland to Coast team in 2022 alongside Jenny and Kerry Rae. Gigi and her daughter Noelle walked with Movers & Shakers in PTC24, and they are both excited to participate again this year!

Jenny is a physical therapist at Oregon Health & Science University specializing in neurological diagnoses, including Parkinson’s disease. In addition to clinical care, she also seeks to enhance outcomes by assisting in several clinical intervention studies at the Balance Disorder Laboratory. Jenny serves on the Brian Grant Foundation medical advisory council and has extensive experience training medical professionals about movement and PD. Jenny loves to see her clients exercising, being part of a community and thriving. She also loves spending time outdoors with her family, whether it be in the woods or on Spring Water corridor with her community PD walkers. Jenny walked with the Brian Grant Foundation’s Portland to Coast team in 2022. She is the co-founder of Movers & Shakers, coordinating and walking with the team in 2024, and is excited to be on the crazy adventure again!

Jerry was officially diagnosed as having Parkinson’s in January of 2023, though it’s possible that symptoms like voice changes and hand tremors began as early as 13 years ago. A young 65 year-old, he is trying to retire from a long career of landscaping. Jerry is determined to live a loving, happy and kind life with PD. A long-distance hiker wannabe, Jerry just likes to walk! He is a volunteer trip leader with PasstoPass (.org), a non-profit providing multi-day supported backpacking trips for people with PD. Pack llamas carry gear so that Parkinson’s hikers only have to carry a light day pack; rumor has it that Jerry is a llama whisperer. Jerry and his brother-in-law Rich D (who also has PD) joined team Movers & Shakers in 2024, and they both look forward to participating in PTC25. 

Joe Quinn is a neurologist and Director of the OHSU Parkinson Center, where he encourages his patients to exercise. When he is not treating patients, running clinical trials and leading meetings, he loves to run. He is a big fan of Hood to Coast/Portland to Coast, and has participated in one way or another since his first time in 1999.  His wife has volunteered too many times to count, and his four children have each run with him at least once. He had fun seeing the Movers & Shakers on the course briefly during last year's event. This year will be his first time walking with the team, and he’s looking forward to it! 

Kerry Rae Connolly was 40 when her late husband Harry was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease. Six years later, Harry had a massive stroke while undergoing deep brain stimulation; he became disabled and confined to a wheelchair, and overnight Kerry Rae became his full-time care partner. Optimism, laughter, love, and endless support from family and friends helped them cope until Harry passed away three years later. To honor Harry, Kerry Rae is active in the PD community. Locally, she volunteers with the Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon. Globally, she has served as a Volunteer Coordinator at the past three World Parkinson Congresses (Portland, Kyoto and Barcelona), and is currently working for the upcoming WPC in Phoenix, Arizona. Kerry Rae walked with the Brian Grant Foundation’s Portland to Coast team in 2022. She is the co-founder of Movers & Shakers, coordinating and walking with the team in 2024, and she is excited to serve in the same capacity again this year. Let’s gooo!

Nancy Husbands is the loving wife to George, proud mother of Robby & Eric, and a minion to one orange tabby named Cedric Moncrief. Nancy was an elementary school teacher for 30 years and had planned to enjoy a few more years of teaching, but Parkinson's disease changed her plans, and she retired early in 2018. Having been active her whole life, she knew she would need to keep herself busy, so she decided to explore some new areas of interest. These include: ukulele lessons, a bridge class, golf, sewing, puppy sitting for Guide Dogs and volunteering in a non-profit bookstore. Her success rate for these endeavors varied (bridge is hard), but she made some great new friends. One thing missing was contact with other people with Parkinson's, which brings us to PTC25. While chatting with Jenny Wilhelm during a PT visit, the topic of the relay came up, and longish story short, Nancy committed to spending a sleepless weekend in the van and being a member of the Movers & Shakers. She couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the team!

Noelle Van Rysselberghe is the eldest daughter of Gigi Van Rysselberghe (also walking on the team). Noelle had the sobering experience of diagnosing her mom with Parkinson’s disease in 2017 when she was a 4th year medical student. Since then, she has been a fierce advocate for her mom and a cheerleader/supporter of everyone on team Movers & Shakers. Noelle keeps busy as an orthopaedic trauma surgeon at Salem Health Hospital & Clinics, as well as a long-distance runner (marathons and ultra-marathons). This will be her second PTC with the Movers and Shakers and she can’t wait!!

Rich Broadfoot is a husband, father, retired graphic designer, novice gardener, ardent traveler, enthusiastic soccer dad, reluctant social media poster and all-around nice guy. He has also been living with a Parkinson’s diagnosis for the past 6 1/2 years. Rich is Movers & Shakers newest team member, and this is his inaugural Portland to Coast relay… and his first relay of any kind since running the anchor leg of the 4x400 at regionals in 1982. The top three finishers went on to state. They finished fourth. It still hurts. 

Rich Denman had been an active climber and hiker, but awareness of balance issues caused him to curtail mountaineering. This, and other symptoms observed by his family, led to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 2017. Rich sold his business in 2023, allowing him to reduce stress and focus on self-care, travel, volunteering, and hiking. In March 2025, Rich underwent DBS surgery and is healing from that as well as appreciating many key benefits. Rich is joined on team Movers & Shakers by his brother-in-law Jerry Jones, who also has PD. Rich and Jerry are often found on trails together. They are both active volunteers with PasstoPass (.org), a non-profit organization in its 10th year. PtP offers multi-day supported backpacking trips for people with Parkinson’s; pack llamas carry gear, so PD hikers only have to carry a light day pack. Rich and Jerry are leaders for the Oregon PtP activities, and Rich serves as a board member, helping the organization expand regionally and nationally. Along with Rich’s brother-in-law Jerry (who also has PD), this will be his second year walking with Movers & Shakers in the Portland to Coast relay.  

Todd Vogt has been involved with the sport of rowing for over 30 years as both an athlete and a

coach. His Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2018 has not slowed him down! Todd is a 5-time member of the US Paralympic Rowing team, representing the US at the World Rowing Championships in 2019, 2022, and 2023. He was the Alternate for the US Rowing Team at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics, and he rowed on the US Paralympic Team at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. When not rowing, Todd enjoys spending time with his wife Heather and his dog Hank. Todd walked with the Brian Grant Foundation’s Portland to Coast team in 2022, and he’s excited to join Movers & Shakers for the PTC25.