Teacher Inspires Fight Against Parkinson’s Disease
By McKenzie Schwarz
Inspired by their coach and teacher George Lehman, seniors Britta Bergstrom, Morgen Moen, and Jacob McGraw put on a fundraiser called Pack the Pool for Parkinson’s for their senior project.
The fundraiser on January 15th, raised $1,455 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which is one of the few cure research charities for Parkinson’s disease. For three years, Lehman has battled the effects of Parkinson’s disease while teaching and coaching.
Swim coach George Lehman (left) shakes hands with senior Morgen Moen during Pack the Pool for Parkinson’s, a fundraiser for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Lehman is suffering from Parkinson’s disease and was the inspiration for the event that Moen helped to organize. Photo by Ben Buchanen
Parkinson’s disease is the progressive decay of the central nervous system due to loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain. The disease starts with minor tremors, then continues with the loss of movement completely. Other symptoms include memory loss and illegible handwriting.
Writing and balance have been his biggest issues. Some days, Lehman has to leave school and go home due to his pain.
“Lehman is declining. He forgets things,” Bergstrom said. “This (was) a good thing to do for him.”
Bergstrom is using the fundraiser to honor Lehman, who has been an important influence in her life.
“He is such a great guy and is always doing things for us and the school. He always makes time for you. If you need help with anything, he will just help you and do it. It’s rewarding to know you are helping someone who has done so much for you,” Bergstrom said.
Today, there is no cure or vaccine available for Parkinson’s disease. The MJFF, according their website, have donated $45 million to research Parkinson’s disease.
“It’s important that research is funded and that there are a lot of groups out there trying to find a cure. There is no treatment that improves or slows down the condition. Some research won’t help me, but it may help someone else,” Lehman said.
Lehman has been a role model in many people’s lives. Moen is on the swim team and has been in Lehman’s physics class. “Everyone on the swim team or anyone who knows him knows that he is such a great teacher, coach and person to all of us,” Moen said.
McGraw has known Lehman for four years. His mom first came up with the idea of a fundraiser to honor Lehman. “Lehman has been a big influence in my life, and I really look up to him and wanted to do something to give back to him for everything he has done for everyone,” McGraw said.
They raised money through donations at the door, t-shirt sales and a raffle. Some of the prizes raffled included gift cards to Kwik Trip, Super One, Applebee’s, Grizzly’s and free oil changes.
“I want this project to be good. It doesn’t matter to me how much money we raise. I just want people to realize how bad this disease is. Even if we only raised $200, that’s 200 more dollars toward a cure,” Bergstrom said.
Bergstrom and McGraw were pleased with the result of the event. “The event was a complete success. We raised $1,455 for charity,” McGraw said.
Lehman has been teaching in Superior for 25 years and is leaning towards retiring after this year, but he still wants to keep coaching and is exploring opportunities to do so.
