Singer Jade Ciel T of the band Sippin Fire, singer-songwriter Cheryl Arena of the Good Bread band, and guitarist Roderick Kohn are just a few of the musicians volunteering their time and joining forces to raise funds for the 3rd Annual DOB Parkinson’s Charity event on Dec. 8 at Sharkey’s Bar and Grille.
The local nonprofit was founded in 2012 by musician and Oakland Park resident Dan O’Brien, 70, along with his friend Wayne Belfer, 67, a retired senior executive of an auto insurance company who’s now living in Boca Raton.
The charity receives 100% of the proceeds and provides support and resources to individuals and families affected by Parkinson’s disease.
“It’s a big honor to be part of this fundraiser and to help find a cure for Parkinson’s disease,” says Arena, lead singer for the high-energy rock and blues band.
Arena, whose brother John also suffers from Parkinson’s, is grateful to O’Brien, who helped start her career in South Florida. “It’s personal,” says Arena, who is performing for the second year at the event.
“It hits home,” she says. “We’re thankful to all these musicians who come out on their own time and own dime and give of themselves to support this cause.
“Dan is a great guy and great musician, and we all want to do what we can,” says Arena.
The ’70s-themed night features a lineup of six duo acts, including blues and soul singer Dottie Kelly and Darrell Raines, Shannon Battle and Tom Piano, Dean Summers and Liz Sharp, Jade Ciel T and Giaco Pop Rock, and Cheryl Arena and Roderick Kohn, and five solo acts, including blues legend J. P. Soars, Ericson Holt, Billy Livesay, Sara Ann, and Jose Almonte from Havoc 305.
“Moving here from New Jersey, where we had similar charities, I noticed there wasn’t anything like it down here,” says Belfer. “Dan and I decided to put something together, and he was all for it as long as I could do most of the work.”
The two hope to eventually grow and expand the charity to help many people who need it and to create a worldwide network of communities, so that no one has to face the challenge of Parkinson’s disease alone.
O’Brien, a married father of two grown sons, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in August 2012. “This disease is horrible,” he says. “It really sucks.”
Signs of Parkinson’s disease include motor symptoms such as slowness of movement (bradykinesia), stiffness (rigidity), and resting tremors.
According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, approximately 1 million people in the U.S. and more than 6 million people worldwide are affected by the disease.
To mitigate symptoms, experts suggest eating a healthy diet, exercising, educating yourself about the disease, finding a movement disorder specialist and determining the right treatment plan, building a support system, staying socially active, and getting involved in the Parkinson’s community.
Many patients are treated with the medications carbidopa and levodopa, a combination medicine used to treat the stiffness or tremors associated with the disease.
O’Brien had an “amazing career” in music. He knows and played with many big-name musicians—including the Lovin’ Spoonful, Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits, and locally with the band Shakey T and with recently deceased bass player Chuck Fiori, who played with John Denver.
He now has a stringent exercise routine: He walks, goes on the bike, has a gym in his home, does balance and strength training, and goes to physical therapy twice a week.
He still works in his home studio and continues to play guitar and write songs. “I’m hoping to be a 70-year overnight success,” he jokes.
Suffering from a “tremor-dominant” form of Parkinson’s, in 2020, O’Brien underwent a surgical procedure known as deep brain stimulation to mitigate the movement disorders associated with the disease.
He had great success with the procedure and says for him, it is a “game-changer.” He went from taking 12 pills a day to taking none and is now able to brush his teeth, shave, button his shirts, and play his guitar (to prove his point, he performed a short riff on the guitar).
“Parkinson’s disease is not a death sentence,” O’Brien says. “You don’t die from the disease; you die with it.”
Keeping a positive attitude is key.
“You have two choices: adapt or give up,” O’Brien says. “And I’ve got way too many things to do, including working to find a cure for the disease.”
The 3rd Annual DOB Parkinson’s Charity event will be held Sunday, Dec. 8, from 5:15 to 9:15 p.m., at Sharkey’s Bar & Grill, 10365 Royal Palm Blvd., Coral Springs. Advance tickets are recommended and can be purchased for $35 at dobparkinsonscharity.com. For more information, visit sharkeysfl.com or call (954) 341-9990. To learn more about the charity, visit it on Facebook or at dobparkinsonscharity.com.