Carsten Boesmann, member of the NYU DPT class of 2002 and a physical therapist at University Hospitals Landerbrook Health Center, will make the ride of his life this June. Diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's Disease, Carsten is asking for donors to support his 27-state motorcycle trek to raise funds for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, founded by the actor who also suffers from Parkinson's.

Carsten, the father of a five-year-old daughter, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2003. As a result of the tremors that he experienced because of the disease, he had to give up one of his favorite activities, scuba-diving. But motorcycling has become his new avocation, and he's putting it to good use.

Parkinson's Disease is a disorder that affects nerve cells in the part of the brain controlling muscle movement. People with Parkinson's often experience trembling, muscle rigidity, difficulty walking, problems with balance, and slowed movements. These symptoms usually develop after age 60, although some people, like Carsten, are diagnosed before turning 50. Parkinson's can be managed by physical therapy, medications, and deep brain stimulation, but currently there is no cure.

To learn more and to donate to Carsten's efforts, see his Web site at www.rideagainstparkinsons.org