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Meet Mike Adkinson: A Man Who Drove A John Deere Tractor 1,700 Miles From Washington to MN To Support His Brother's Parkinson's Diagnosis

Mike's brother Dan was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease a year ago

This morning we had the chance to talk with Mike Adkinson. Mike made a 1,700 journey on his John Deere tractor from Washington State to Minnesota to raise awareness to Parkinson's Disease. Mike's brother Dan was diagnosed about a year ago, and in this cross country trek, Mike made connections with Parkinson's support groups and people living with it. Mike is 76 yeas old and is described by his brother-in-law Mike Raich as not being "risk adverse".

Mike's brother Dan Adkinson can hardly believe his little brother did this trek . According to an article in the Lynden Tribune, he said "It's amazing, really. It's kind of hard to explain how I feel about it. It blows me away that he's doing it."

During the cross country trek Mike's street legal John Deere Tractor pulled a trailer with a billboard advertising and encouraging people to donate to the American Parkinson's Disease Association.

Check out his facebook page, and you can help the cause by donating to apdaparkinson.org/Northwest.

Mike will be speaking TODAY at Minnesota North College - Grand Rapids Campus (ICC) at 12:30 at Johnson Hall.

Heidi Holtan is KAXE's Director of Content and Public Affairs where she manages producers and is the local host of Morning Edition from NPR. Heidi is a regional correspondent for WDSE/WRPT's Duluth Public Television’s Almanac North.