Davis Phinney's Memoir Offers Information and Inspiration for Living Well with Parkinson's Disease

-- Davis Phinney Foundation Enhances Upcoming Book Launch with Discussion Guide for Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease --

BOULDER, Colo., May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Davis Phinney Foundation (www.davisphinneyfoundation.org)  is pleased to announce a valuable new resource for the Parkinson's community with the upcoming launch of cycling legend Davis Phinney's new memoir -- The Happiness of Pursuit: A Father's Courage, A Son's Love, and Life's Steepest Climb.

Prior to Davis's diagnosis with young-onset Parkinson's disease more than a decade ago at age 40, Davis had achieved more wins – 328 victories in all – than any other U.S. cyclist, a record that stands today. The Happiness of Pursuit, authored by Davis Phinney with Austin Murphy and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, shares the ways in which Davis applies his winning attitude to daily living and inspires others through the Davis Phinney Foundation, whose mission is to help people live well with Parkinson's Disease today. The book also covers key aspects of Davis's daily management of the disease, including exercising daily and receiving Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy.

"The Davis Phinney Foundation is proud to recommend The Happiness of Pursuit as an engaging and powerful read for people affected Parkinson's disease," said Amy Howard, executive director of the Davis Phinney Foundation. "Davis's experience provides valuable insights for people at all stages of the disease, including those with young-onset Parkinson's disease who seek information but may not yet be ready to fully engage with the Parkinson's community."

In celebration of the book's June 1, 2011, release, the Davis Phinney Foundation has created a special discussion guide for people with young-onset Parkinson's disease that can be downloaded at http://davisphinneyfoundation.org/living-pd/living/young-onset-pd/.

"I especially hope that people with Parkinson's disease will be inspired to consider the many ways in which they can experience small victories each day," Davis said. "I tell the members of my Parkinson's tribe, 'Get out! Move! Connect!'  The disease is difficult, it's tough to get out - but then the disease wins.  Find therapies that work! For me, deep brain stimulation has provided dramatic relief from my underlying symptoms in tandem with daily exercise.  In all, it is essential to search out daily victories; seek information and connect with others about strategies and techniques for managing the disease every day."

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt will donate a portion of proceeds from hard cover book sales to the Davis Phinney Foundation. Visit www.davisphinneyfoundation.org for additional book details and ordering information.

About Parkinson's Disease

As many as 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year. The disease affects men and women alike, and its frequency is considerably higher in the over-60 age group, although there is an alarming increase of patients of younger age.

About the Davis Phinney Foundation

The Davis Phinney Foundation was created in 2004 by cycling legend Davis Phinney and is dedicated to helping people with Parkinson's disease live well today. The foundation's major initiatives include: The Every Victory Counts™ Program, developed by movement disorder experts to encourage living well with Parkinson's; Victory Summit™ series of symposia, which bring leading experts into local communities to share the latest advances in science, care and inspire those affected by the disease to celebrate the daily victories in their lives; and the funding of research focused on exercise, speech and other quality of life therapies. Visit the web site: www.davisphinneyfoundation.org.

About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

With education products and services used by 57 million students throughout all 50 U.S. states and 120 countries, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global education and learning company. The world's largest provider of materials for pre-K–12 learning, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is leading the way with innovative solutions and approaches to the challenges facing education today. Through curricula excellence coupled with technology innovations and professional services, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt collaborates with school districts, administrators, teachers, parents and students, providing interactive, results-driven learning solutions. Its Educational Consulting Services group works to increase student achievement in underperforming schools by developing, implementing and supporting education transformation through sustained district partnerships. With origins dating back to 1832, the Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers. For more information, visit www.hmhco.com.

SOURCE Davis Phinney Foundation