#125 Drive Toward A Parkinson’s Disease Cure | RSS.com

Deb Pollack has been involved in the automotive industry for decades. She's worked for small and large companies and several manufacturers, Ferrari to Maserati and General Motors to Mitsubishi

Pollack's work in public relations, which the Los Angeles-based businesswoman describes as the "blending of cars and camaraderie," has also resulted in her national philanthropic efforts with the organization she founded, Drive Toward A Cure (www.drivetowardacure.org).

Deb Pollack (driving) is the founder of the non-profit Drive Toward A Cure. It raises money to benefit the fight against Parkinson's Disease. Image courtesy of Deb Pollack.

In addition to currently working as the publicist for the boutique restoration house Singer Vehicle Design, Pollack advocates the ability to team cars and camaraderie to raise funds to benefit the battle against Parkinson's Disease.

Pollack is our guest on Episode #125 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with the organization's founder how her idea — fundraising automotive-travel events around the country — has grown, and what's planned this year.

"Having been in the car industry for several decades — blending cars and camaraderie has always been something of second nature," said Pollack, based in Los Angeles. "But when I lost my mom to Parkinson’s in 2006, I realized there were meaningful ways to share friendships and the emotional bonds and gratification that driving can bring to support the challenges others may face."

The first of a diverse series of Drive Toward A Cure events this season is the organization's inaugural 'weekend getaway.'

Specifically, it's The Kentucky Bourbon Trail Getaway.

As Pollack describes the weekend:

"It's a full day of unlimited Touring Lapping at the NCM Motorsports Park before heading to Louisville. After we’ve checked into the historic Brown Hotel, we’ll hit a local 'speakeasy' for great food and libations, and a chance to unwind.

"Saturday will feature a relaxing day touring several hand-picked Kentucky Bourbon distilleries and three great meals. Finally, on Sunday we apply the tried-and-true Drive Toward a Cure formula of great back road driving, crossing state lines into Tennessee and changing time zones with great visits to the Bavarian Bierhaus in Nashville and the Lane Motor Museum!"

In addition to other rally-travel days, Drive Toward A Cure also recently expanded its fundraising efforts to support for those challenged by Parkinson’s Disease by establishing an all-new "Special Assistance Fund." It will provide financial assistance to qualified applicants following extenuating circumstances, such as the recent devastating tornado in Nashville, Tennessee.

Since its inception, Drive Toward A Cure has raised more than $300,000, including contributions that provide financial assistance for research and patient programs.

For program details and this season's schedule of events, visit: www.drivetowardacure.org

 Episode Transcript

[00:00:00] James Raia: Welcome back to episode number 1 25 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. My name is James Raya. I'm an automotive columnist for Bay Area News Group, and I publish the website the weekly driver.com. My co-host and friend is Bruce Aldrich, and today for our 125th episode we have on a woman I met briefly a couple of years ago, maybe three years ago now at the LA Auto Show.

Her name is Deb Pollock. Pollock. I almost, I didn't angle it. Deb Pollock, I beg your pardon. Deb Pollock is the founder and runs with her husband, I believe an organization called Drive Toward a Cure. And it's a, from what we know about it it's doing great things to raise money for. Parkinson's disease, and I would venture to say almost everybody has a friend or a relative who's been afflicted by Parkinson's.

And so Deb is doing this great thing [00:01:00] every year to raise money with rallies and functions a...