Getting involved with the Forward Motion Fund in 2026 does not have to start with a giant gesture. It can begin with a conversation, a small act of support, a shared story, a race, a company initiative, or a decision to stand beside people who are still moving forward through difficult chapters. The heart of the fund is simple: take one more step, then help someone else take theirs.

The Forward Motion Fund grew from Greg Schaefer’s own decision to keep moving after a Young-Onset Parkinson’s diagnosis. It reflects the full shape of his story: family, endurance, business, adversity, advocacy, and community. In 2026, getting involved can mean supporting Parkinson’s research, partner and caregiver support, challenged athletes, youth and education initiatives, or the broader mission of helping people keep going when life changes.

Quick answer: ways to get involved in 2026

• Support the fund directly through giving or mission-aligned fundraising.
• Share the mission with people, teams, and organizations that care about resilience and purpose.
• Build a community effort around a race, endurance challenge, workplace campaign, or local event.
• Invite Greg to speak so the message can reach teams, leaders, schools, and communities.
• Stay connected and look for practical ways to turn awareness into action throughout the year.

Start with the mission, not just the donation

Giving matters. Fundraising matters. But the strongest involvement usually begins with understanding what the Forward Motion Fund represents. It is not only about one diagnosis, one athlete, or one finish line. It is about what happens when a person, a family, and a community decide that hardship does not get the final word.

That perspective changes the way people participate. A supporter may be drawn to Parkinson’s research because someone they love has been diagnosed. A company may connect with the leadership message because its team is navigating change. An athlete may see the fund as a way to give deeper meaning to a race. A caregiver may feel seen by a mission that recognizes the people walking beside the person with the diagnosis.

The best first step is to ask a practical question: where does this mission intersect with my life, my network, my workplace, or my community?

1. Make a direct contribution

A direct contribution is the simplest way to support the Forward Motion Fund. It helps fuel the mission and creates a foundation for broader impact. For some people, that may mean a one-time gift. For others, it may mean building the fund into an annual giving plan, a birthday fundraiser, a race campaign, or a company match opportunity.

The amount is not the only measure of involvement. Consistency, intention, and connection matter too. A modest gift paired with a thoughtful share, a personal note, or an introduction to someone who can help may become part of a much larger ripple effect.

2. Turn an endurance goal into a mission goal

Because Greg’s story is closely tied to endurance sports and Ironman racing, athletic goals can be a natural doorway into the Forward Motion Fund. A 5K, marathon, triathlon, bike ride, ruck, swim, gym challenge, or personal milestone can become more than a physical target. It can become a way to bring people into the mission.

This does not require being an elite athlete. The point is not performance perfection. The point is movement with meaning. A person training for a first race, returning from injury, honoring a loved one, or simply committing to a hard thing can use that effort to raise awareness and support.

A strong mission-based athletic effort usually includes three pieces: a clear goal, a short personal explanation of why the cause matters, and a simple invitation for others to support, share, or participate.

3. Bring the message into your workplace or organization

Companies, leadership teams, schools, associations, and community groups often look for causes that connect service with a deeper human message. The Forward Motion Fund fits naturally into conversations about resilience, leadership, identity, adversity, teamwork, and purpose.

One organization might host a fundraising challenge around movement. Another might invite Greg to speak at a leadership event. A school or youth group might build a service project around perseverance and advocacy. A business could use a wellness initiative as an opportunity to support the fund while giving employees a meaningful reason to move.

For event planners and organizational leaders, Greg’s work as a speaker can help make the mission personal. His story is not a generic motivational message. It is rooted in family, business leadership, endurance, Parkinson’s, and the daily decision to keep moving forward. Learn more about Greg’s speaking work if your organization wants to bring that message to a wider audience.

4. Share the story with care

Awareness can be powerful when it is shared thoughtfully. A post, email, conversation, or introduction can help more people understand why the Forward Motion Fund exists and how they can participate. But the tone matters.

The strongest sharing avoids pity, exaggeration, or empty inspiration. It focuses on dignity, action, and real support. Instead of framing Parkinson’s or adversity as a simple motivational device, speak about the human reality: the uncertainty, the support systems, the discipline, the family impact, and the choice to keep taking one more step.

5. Create a small circle of action

Not every effort has to be public or large. Sometimes the most meaningful involvement begins with a small group: a family, a few friends, a training crew, a leadership team, or a group of colleagues. A circle of action can choose one specific goal and follow through together.

For example, a group might commit to a month of movement and giving. A business team might set a shared fundraising goal. A family might honor a loved one by supporting caregiver-focused work. A training group might dedicate a race season to the Forward Motion mission. The key is to make the action specific enough that people know what to do next.

What people often miss about getting involved

Many people wait because they think involvement requires a large platform, a major donation, or a formal event. It does not. The Forward Motion idea is built around the next step. That step can be personal, private, public, athletic, professional, or community-based.

Another overlooked point: support is not only about money. Funding is important, but credibility, introductions, awareness, volunteer energy, event opportunities, and consistent storytelling can all help a mission grow. A person who cannot give much financially may still be able to connect the fund with the right room, the right company, the right race community, or the right audience.

A practical 2026 involvement plan

If you want to move from interest to action, keep the plan simple:

• Choose your connection point. Is it Parkinson’s, caregiving, endurance, challenged athletes, youth, leadership, or resilience?
• Pick one action. Donate, share, host, introduce, invite, race, or organize.
• Make it visible enough to invite others in. Tell people why the mission matters to you.
• Follow through. A completed small effort is more valuable than a perfect idea that never happens.
• Stay connected. Look for ways to support the mission more than once during the year.

FAQ

Do I need to be an athlete to support the Forward Motion Fund?

No. Endurance is part of Greg’s story, but the fund is not only for athletes. Supporters may connect through family, business, advocacy, caregiving, leadership, Parkinson’s awareness, education, or a desire to help others keep moving forward.

Can a company or organization get involved?

Yes. Organizations can consider workplace giving, event-based fundraising, wellness challenges, leadership programming, speaking engagements, or mission-aligned partnerships. The best fit depends on the organization’s goals and audience.

Is the Forward Motion Fund only about Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s is a major part of the mission, but the fund’s broader focus includes Parkinson’s research, partner and caregiver support, challenged athletes, and youth and education initiatives. That wider scope reflects the many people and communities touched by the idea of forward motion.

What is a good first step?

Start by visiting the Forward Motion Fund page, learning the mission, and choosing one practical action you can take this year. That might be giving, sharing, introducing, hosting, or building a small campaign around a personal goal.

The bottom line

Getting involved with the Forward Motion Fund in 2026 is not about doing everything. It is about doing something real. A gift, a race, a story, a conversation, an introduction, or a room full of people hearing the message can all become part of the same movement.

The mission begins with one more step. In 2026, your step may help someone else take theirs.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. For diagnosis, treatment, or personalized medical guidance, please speak with a qualified healthcare professional.