Kourage Health To Host “Amazing Journeys” Luncheon
The power of perseverance will be celebrated at Kourage Health’s Spirit of Kourage annual inspiration luncheon, set for Friday, Sept. 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CrossWalk Conference Center in Tyler. Highlighting the theme of “Amazing Journeys” will be keynote speaker Tim Hague, Sr., Parkinson’s disease warrior and winner of The Amazing Race Canada, season one. Diane and Andy Wall are serving as Honorary Chairs of the event.
At age 46, Hague’s life was turned upside down by three little words: You have Parkinson’s. Two years later – at the urging of his wife, Sheryl – he and his son (Tim, Jr.) applied for and were selected for participation in season one of The Amazing Race Canada. “How does one go from a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease to winning a gruelling, travel adventure, reality television show? You learn to live your best,” says Hague.
“It’s my desire to work with others in providing the hope and encouragement people need,” he adds. “That means having the strength to do our best, the courage to be content with what our best produces and the will to persevere.”
Jennifer Selman, Kourage Health executive director, notes that Hague is the ideal person to reflect Kourage Health’s mission of empowering individuals through the promise of medical exercise.
“At the time of his diagnosis, Tim’s neurologist told him that he was in as good a position as possible for Parkinson’s because of the exercise he had done all his life,” she said. “Today he is a strong advocate for exercise as part of facing health challenges and living your best. His message will inspire everyone in attendance as it reflects Kourage Health’s own mission of movement.”
The Spirit of Kourage luncheon benefits Kourage Health’s nonprofit mission of hope and healing for individuals with serious health conditions. For further information – including ticket purchases and table sponsorships – visit www.kouragehealth.org. Immediately following the Kourage Health luncheon and program, Tim Hague, Sr. will provide a book-signing opportunity with sales of his bestselling book Perseverance: The Seven Skills You Need to Survive, Thrive and Accomplish More Than You Ever Imagined.
“Kourage Health believes that movement is medicine,” said Selman. “We provide a caring, encouraging community that enables individuals with serious health conditions to take active steps to renewed life. While our patients vary in diagnosis, they share in the journey to greater strength, hope, and quality of life.”
Participants in Kourage Health’s medical exercise programs include individuals with cancer; Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and other neurological disorders; arthritis; diabetes; heart, kidney, lung, and liver disease; and other conditions. At Kourage Health they gain customized exercise plans – supervised by medical exercise specialists – and vital social interaction that boosts spirits.
Created in 2001, the nonprofit organization united its former names (Cancer Foundation For Life and FitSteps for Life) under the Kourage Health identity this year. The “K” in Kourage honors the organization’s founder – the late Gary T. Kimmel, MD – while the name reflects the connection of kinetics (bodily movement) with emotional courage. The organization provides Kourage Health medical exercise centers in East Texas, the Dallas/Fort Worth area and other Texas sites, as well as online resources and Zoom classes.
“We are powered by philanthropy,” noted Selman. “Kourage Health receives no reimbursement from private insurance, Medicare, or other health coverage sources. Instead, the generosity of individuals and organizations that believe in our mission allows us to provide medical exercise to our patients, free of charge for a lifetime.”
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