Selkirk Joins Scott Rider in Parkinson’s Fight: Scott Rider, a resident of Beaufort, South Carolina, has found more than just fun in pickleball. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 18 years ago, he uses the sport as part of his daily fight. Now, he’s working to help others with the disease find strength and support through pickleball.
Pickleball Gives Rider a New Way to Fight
Scott Rider first noticed people playing pickleball on what used to be a basketball court. Curious, he joined them. That moment began a new journey.
“I was riding my bike one day right past these courts when it was a basketball court, and people were setting up a temporary net to play pickleball.”-(Scott Rider )
Since then, the game has become part of his life and health routine. Rider takes 35 pills a day, but says exercise is his best medicine.
“When you’re out there playing on the court, you kind of get immersed into the game itself and you kind of forget you have Parkinson’s. Now if somebody’s standing off to the side and they’re watching, I’m sure they’re picking up that something’s not quite right with that guy” -(Scott Rider )
Friends Support and Admire His Efforts
Scott Rider often plays with friends who admire his drive. Trje Sorlie, one of his close friends, said,
“He has a couple moves — he’ll change his hands with the paddles. I’ll keep mine in my right hand and he’ll switch it a little bit, but that’s really the only thing.”-(Trje Sorlie)
Another friend, David Fisher, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2010. He praised Rider for more than his skills on the court.
“He’s very determined, he’s very generous. He does an enormous amount of work for the Parkinson’s effort all over America.” -(David Fisher)
Turning an Idea Into Action
Four years ago, Scott Rider had the idea to teach pickleball to others with Parkinson’s. He took the plan to the Medical University of South Carolina, where another idea followed — to train and certify coaches to teach the sport to people with the disease.
“We’re working on finalizing the curriculum, hopefully in the next 60 days, to certify coaches to be certified Parkinson’s pickleball instructors, and they’ll be able to do it virtually by tying it into Selkirk,”-(Scott Rider )
Selkirk is a pickleball company that now supports the cause. They have made paddles featuring the Parkinson’s Foundation logo.
“My son said, ‘I want to have a Selkirk paddle.’ I was like, ‘Why?’ Well, because Scott is an advocate for it”-(Trje Sorlie).
Paddling Ahead with Positivity
Scott Rider knows the future is uncertain, but he chooses to stay hopeful.
“I can choose to dwell on the negative aspects of life or focus on the positive aspects of life. And I wear this (bracelet) on my wrist every day. IWNQ — I will never quit, and that’s my mantra and my motto that I live by.”-(Scott Rider)
Selkirk makes two paddles with the Parkinson’s Foundation logo. Twelve percent of each sale goes to the foundation. That number represents the 1.2 million people expected to live with Parkinson’s by 2030.
News in Brief: Selkirk Joins Scott Rider in Parkinson’s Fight
Beaufort resident Scott Rider uses pickleball to fight Parkinson’s disease and inspire others. He is helping certify coaches to teach the sport to people with Parkinson’s and partners with Selkirk for awareness. Rider’s motto, “I will never quit,” drives his mission to bring hope through pickleball.
ALSO READ: How Pickleball Is Transforming Life With Parkinson’s—Inside New York’s Fast-Growing Support Movement