Our incredible PD Team from St. Cyprian High in Uganda is heading home for their two-month Christmas break, and I couldn’t be prouder of them. These students live on campus for months, often only seeing their families during extended breaks. It's truly inspiring to see how excited they are to share what they've learned about martial arts and Parkinson's with their loved ones back home. 
Today, they celebrated their year-long journey to Yellow Belt in ITF Tang Soo Do and their official status as Parkinson's advocates for Uganda with an all-American pool party! The dedication and passion these students have shown is admirable. They've worked hard in their training (far longer than any yellow belts normally would) and embraced the responsibility of raising awareness about Parkinson's in their community. Their commitment is a testament to their strength of character, resilience, and the impact they will have on the stigma of PD in Uganda.
As they go home to their families, I am grateful for each of them. Through this journey, they've shown me what it truly means to persevere and uplift others. In a year full of personal challenges for me, they have been a Godsend, a redirecting light through each stumble, and I am so thankful for the spirit and dedication they bring to my life.
The progression of this project, from a small conversation between friends so many years ago about how to impact the culture surrounding PD in Uganda through youth martial arts training to a standing program primed to continue impacting for years to come, is humbling. I’m so thankful for all of the help I’ve received along the way. Specifically, Darbe Schlosser (Motorvation Foundation), Jim Kroeger (Main Project Funder), Martin Magumbe (St. Cyprian High), Kabugo Hannington (Parkinson's Si Buko Uganda), Jerry Dollinger Jr. (Flushing Karate), and the International Tang Soo Do Federation.
The next step in this project is to expand into other schools, utilizing the continued training and leadership skills of these students as a venue for broader cultural change within Uganda.
Connecting people and providing a transformative shared experience through the power of martial arts is what it's all about! What a beautiful journey this is turning into. Stay tuned!
To learn more, visit MotorvationUSA.com/project-uganda
