Parkinson’s fundraiser was a real labor of love

Ex-Maryland player Manis, friends complete challenge

Alarge contingent of supporters stood at the end of the Linstead on the Severn community pier cheering and blowing air horns to welcome Nick Manis Jr. as he completed a grueling seven-hour challenge.

What began just shy of 5 o’clock in the morning would end around 1:30 in the afternoon Sunday. After running a 26.2mile marathon that took 5½ hours, Manis and two close friends swam 2.2 miles across the Severn River in just over an hour and a half.

They arrived at the Linstead pier to find approximately 15 well-wishers cheering their efforts to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s disease.

Manis undertook the rigorous challenge in honor of his uncle, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013 and has since felt the affects of the degenerative disease.

Brian Adam was on hand every step of the way to support Manis, who completed the seven-hour event along with lifelong friend LJ Urie and former Maryland lacrosse teammate Nick Brozowski.

Adam, who has developed speech and balance issues after battling Parkinson’s for seven years, posed for photos with the three athletes at the Sherwood Forest community pier before the swim, then was waiting on the other side when they finished.

“It was one heck of a grind, but it was also a lot of fun. I was thinking the whole way about why we’re doing this,” said Manis, a Severn School product who was a key member of Maryland’s 2017 national championship team.

“Let’s not forget the main reason for all this is to uplift my uncle. I really appreciate Uncle Brian for everything he’s done for me personally and for our entire family,” Manis added. “He’s a special person and it means a lot to be able to give something back to him in this small way.”

When Manis announced the fundraiser Feb. 15, he originally set a goal of raising $5,000 for Parkinson’s research. On Friday, the initiative had raised almost $26,000.

The 26-year-old Annapolis resident, who played two years of professional lacrosse with the Chesapeake Bayhawks, was amazed by what happened after an article about the event appeared in The Capital.

Supporters far and wide donated almost $18,000 in two days, bringing the total money raised to just shy of $44,000 as of Sunday evening. All proceeds benefited the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.