Olympic Cyclist Davis Phinney Honored At White House For Work With Parkinson's Patients

WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBS4) - Olympic cyclist Davis Phinney was honored Monday at the White House for his foundation and work to improve the lives of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Phinney was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2000 and has spent the past decade encouraging others to live as well as they can today.

"We've worked very hard to get people to not wait for a cure because waiting is too passive," Phinney said. "But to work towards a cure, to hope for a cure, but not wait for a cure."

Phinney says waiting means patients decline and there is no upside to declining. He says he challenges his "tribe" to get up and get out and to live well today.

Additional Information About The Davis Phinney Foundation

The Davis Phinney Foundation was created in 2004 to help people with Parkinson's disease live well today. Its major initiatives include: the Every Victory Counts® manual, developed by movement disorder experts to provide practical ways to live well with Parkinson's; The Victory Summit® symposia series, which brings experts into communities to share advances in science, care and to inspire those affected by the disease to take action; the Living Well Challenge™ educational webinar series; the "Parkinson's Exercise Essentials" video and the funding of research focused on exercise, speech and other quality of life therapies.

LINK: Davis Phinney Foundation