Detroit — He might be a legend around these parts, but Kirk Gibson is also grandpa.
And that’s all two of his grandkids cared about as they rushed up to him for hugs and attention as he sat under a shade tent on the outfield concourse at Comerica Park on Thursday afternoon.
Gibson, along with The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s, spent Thursday afternoon at the home of the Tigers for “Gibby’s Day,” a now-annual promotion between the foundation and the Tigers with proceeds from ticket sales going to support the group. He went on the broadcast to explain it all to the TV audience, and then sat down for a meet -and-greet and to sign autographs.
But the grandkids, they came first. Gibson hoisted them onto his lap, and the younger of the two started to fidget with Gibson’s glasses, down around his neck. Gibson noticed the ketchup stains on the older grandkid’s “Gibson” No. 23 jerseys, quipping that they must’ve enjoyed a hot dog.
“That’s why you stick around,” Gibson said.
“Gibby’s Day” might be built around the attraction that is Gibson, a baseball and Michigan sports legend in his own right, but he and his foundation are here with goals in mind. Namely, to continue fighting the good fight against Parkinson’s disease, which Gibson was diagnosed with in 2015. It’s what led Gibson to start his foundation and recently open the Kirk Gibson Center — his own brainchild — in Farmington Hills, which offers programming and community for people with Parkinson’s, free of charge.
And Gibson was back at Comerica Park on Thursday because for all the progress, there is still no cure for Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement, balance and mood. There’s more work to do.
“We tried to design something, you know, an inviting culture, community,” Gibson said. “And you get to know just many people just stay at home, sit in the chair, on your computer. … It’s talking about innovative approaches to movement therapies. It’s, you know — we still don’t have a cure. But we’re gathering data and we’re fighting our ass out to decipher what it means.”
Since opening last fall, the Gibson Center has had more than 1000 people sign up as members, foundation CEO Steve Annear said, with hundreds more on the waiting list. They expect the enrollment to be doubled or tripled by this time next year.
Along with some open community space with seating and various amenities, the center has a staff of 30-plus coaches and some 60-plus volunteers to help offer various classes like yoga or boxing or tai chi. Just 150 minutes of exercise a week can help slow the progression of Parkinson’s, Annear said.
And all of the offerings at the center are free, something all involved felt was important. That reality is backstopped by the foundation raising money to run the center free of charge for the public.
“People’s ability to work gets compromised by the disease,” Annear said. “They spend a lot of money, you know, the medication, healthcare and all those things. So we don’t want to be another burden on that. Kirk said, you know, he said, ‘We will make this place sustainable. Whatever it takes. We will do that.’ And so we’re raising money all the time and today’s a big part of that.”
Those who visit the Gibson Center, a first-of-its-kind offering in Michigan, can expect to find one person there reliably: Gibson.
For Gibson, it’s an inspiration to see so many other people fighting valiantly against the same disease he has. It’s heartening, too, when he knows how easy it can be to slide into a bad mindset and not be proactive with the sort of therapeutic treatment that can help slow the onset.
Cam Gibson, one of Kirk’s sons who works with the foundation, knows his dad’s presence around the center and in classes, encouraging people and the like, makes a difference.
And Gibson and his son also acknowledge the choice Gibson made. He didn’t have to do this. He could’ve decided to be private with his bout with Parkinson’s and few would’ve taken issue.
Instead, he ran head on into raising awareness and creating a helping hand.
“Be very honest about what you’re going through because if he’s honest with it, the people who attend the center and go to our classes and our members, they’ll also be honest about it too,” Cam said. “And that’s, you know — in order to implement a culture, you have to practice what you preach. You can’t BS these people.”
For Cam, seeing the second act of his dad’s life has been its own inspiration.
“So I didn’t get to see him create that career,” Cam said. “And build on that year after year. But I am around for this, which is very fun for me to see because it all started as his, like, idea. Like, he’s like, ‘I really want to do this. I think this would be beneficial.’ … It’s so cool to be a part of that.”
And for Gibson, what could’ve been a personal fight has been a public and heartening one as he’s rallied support and funds.
“There’s a closeness. We’re in it together,” Gibson said. “So, yeah, we’re trying to figure it out. These people are extremely loyal. And they feel better. That makes me feel a little better.”
Andrew Graham is a freelance writer.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: On ‘Gibby’s Day,’ Kirk Gibson reflects on Parkinson’s foundation success
Reporting by Andrew Graham, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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