Barrow Neurological Foundation is proud to be the presenting organization for the 20th Annual Walk The Fight & Run The Distance event on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Tempe Beach Park. All net proceeds from the walk will help support community-based exercise, recreational, and educational programs offered through the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute.
Walk The Fight & Run The Distance is the Center’s signature fundraiser event and the largest gathering of Parkinson’s patients, families, and friends in Arizona. Attendees can participate in a two-block fun walk, a 4K (2.8-mile) walk, or a 5K (3.2-mile) timed run, as well as interactive activation areas such as a Poster Table to cheer on and encourage participants, a Resource Fair, a Pet Park, a Kids Zone, and a Photo Booth.
Approximately 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s disease, with nearly 90,000 new diagnoses each year. Most of the day-to-day care for patients with Parkinson’s is provided by family members or friends. However, as the disease progresses, they begin to face significant responsibilities—their loved one may have substantial mobility impairments, difficulty eating and dressing, and trouble with communication. Outreach and wellness services are vital to enhancing the quality of life for patients and caregivers, helping them understand the road ahead, fostering a sense of community, and providing an outlet for self-expression.
The Center’s Community Outreach Program is one of the most robust in the country, helping patients and their families navigate the everyday challenges of Parkinson’s disease. Outreach services offered through the program include exercise classes, expressive arts workshops, educational programs, social work services, and support groups for patients and caregivers. The Center also has a Spanish-language outreach program that emphasizes culturally sensitive service delivery. Moreover, it offers these services regardless of a patient’s ability to pay or where they receive their medical care.
“Our commitment to improve the quality of life for everyone who visits the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center doesn’t stop at individual patient care—we’re always considering families and the greater Parkinson’s community, too. Not only do we offer cutting-edge treatment, but we also strive to address the emotional, psychosocial, practical, and cultural effects of Parkinson’s on patients and their families,” said Holly Shill, MD, FAAN, director of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and the Bob & Renee Parsons Chair for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders.
The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, a designated Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, provides world-class care and support to patients and caregivers, while advancing research to enhance the treatment of movement disorders. Its team of neurologists, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists is dedicated to providing the best clinical care, research, rehabilitation, education, and support. The Center is also a world leader in deep brain stimulation (DBS) and focused ultrasound for the treatment of movement disorders.