The benefits of pickleball
After being diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s in 2022, Terence Degnan picked up a pickleball paddle… and everything changed.
The benefits were immediate — pickleball eased his symptoms, lifted his spirit, and soon had him playing every day. He even became a certified coach. What began with a few people, a few paddles, and a lot of hope has grown into something rare: a space where joy and difficulty coexist, where every game is met with encouragement, and every small win is celebrated like a championship point.
Move With Confidence Gentle, safe exercise designed for you.
Find Your People We show up for each other. Friendships, carpools, birthday celebrations. We even have a WhatsApp group.
Inclusive by Design Free, welcoming, and adapted to all abilities – from beginner to competitive play.
Feel the Joy Celebrate progress and rediscover the fun of play.
Our Mission
Pickleball for Parkinson’s is a values-driven movement rooted in joy, inclusion, and dignity. We harness the power of play to support people living with Parkinson’s disease —creating community, promoting wellness, and reshaping what it means to move through the world with Parkinson’s.
We host daily events throughout New York City and weekly signature gatherings that bring together people with Parkinson’s, their families, caregivers, and allies. These spaces are free or low-cost, accessible to all skill levels, and intentionally designed to reduce isolation, boost physical and emotional health, and cultivate belonging.
People with Parkinson’s are not just participants — they are leaders. Their voices are central to every aspect of our organization, from programming to strategy. We believe in building with, not for.
As we expand into cities across the country and beyond, Pickleball for Parkinson’s is reframing the culture of pickleball itself — centering equity, health, and community over competition and exclusivity. We envision a world where the fastest-growing sport in America grows up with deeper values, and where every court becomes a place of connection, compassion, and resilience.
Together, we are rewriting the narrative of Parkinson’s, of sport, and what it means to show up and play.