2022 Annual Report

Running for family & research
Nearly 40,000 athletes crowd the streets of
Chicago every year to compete in the city’s historic
marathon. Many see it as a physical challenge,
pushing themselves to the limit alongside an iconic
skyline. For George Sharpe Jr., the marathon is not
just about running — it’s a personal, emotional and
spiritual challenge.
Sharpe Jr. always had a passion for medical research and
philanthropy, but the importance of getting involved was
elevated in 2009, when his father, George Sharpe Sr.,
was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The diagnosis
brought them closer together.
“We face the challenges together, and we’ve imagined
ways in which we can turn this challenge into action
to make a lasting contribution to the Parkinson’s
community,” Sharpe Jr. said.
Those contributions are broad and impactful: Sharpe
Jr. and his wife, Missy, are co-chairs of VAI’s Winterfest
committee, leading the planning for Grand Rapids’
winter extravaganza focused on supporting Parkinson’s
research.
The efforts don’t stop there. In 2017 and 2019, Sharpe
Jr. ran the Chicago Marathon as part of VAI’s Marathon
Team, raising money for the Institute’s research efforts.
He ran again in 2022, this time alongside his lifelong
friend Joe Brennan. Their friendship dates back 35
years, to grade school and early college years. Their
run became a record-breaking fundraising event:
Sharpe Jr. raised more than $26,000 for Parkinson’s
research, the highest total achieved by a VAI marathon
runner.
The Sharpe family’s commitment to research,
discovery and hope is unwavering. Their ongoing
support continues to fund research to help us better
understand, diagnose and treat Parkinson’s disease.
“It makes a difference knowing that such
groundbreaking and potentially life-altering research
is happening in our own backyard,” Sharpe Jr. said. “We
know the research happening today might not have
a direct impact on our lives or our loved ones, but it
might one day help another family with hopes, dreams
and memories like our own.”
“It makes a difference knowing that such groundbreaking and potentially life-altering
research is happening in our own backyard. We know the research happening today might
not have a direct impact on our lives or our loved ones, but it might one day help another
family with hopes, dreams and memories like our own.”
— George Sharpe Jr.
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