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VB Gives Back

#VBGIVESBACK: Deborah W. Brooks

November 1, 2016

We are honored to support The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research as part of our ongoing #VBGIVESBACK program and will be donating $10 of every VeronicaBeard.com order in November to the cause. Learn more about co-founder Deborah W. Brooks in the interview below.

Deborah W. Brooks and Michael J. Fox / Photo by Filip Wolak

Michael J. Fox was the first person Deborah W. Brooks met with Parkinson’s disease. She was quickly drawn to his fight to make a difference and work toward finding a cure. Since co-founding The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research alongside Michael in 2000, Deborah has worked to oversee fundraising, communications and strategy within MJFF.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive brain disease and is the second most common brain disease after Alzheimer’s. With an estimated five to 10 percent of people experiencing onset of the disease at age 40 or younger, the Foundation works every day toward finding a cure for the estimated five million people living with Parkinson’s worldwide. Since 2000, it has funded more than $650 million in research.

What inspired you to help launch The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF)?

Michael was the first person I met with Parkinson’s disease, so there was a tremendous learning curve to understand the community and the needs of people who live with the disease. We first met during my interview for CEO of the Foundation. I was drawn not only to who he was as a person, but also to what he wanted to accomplish — something simple and yet, audacious— figuring out how to make a difference.Michael had a gut instinct to go beyond the work of many disease charities that focus on community services and go for a cure for Parkinson’s disease. He also had a clear, almost viscerally informed vision for the values that he aspired to instill in every facet of the work. I knew that helping him build something from scratch presented a unique challenge and a welcomed opportunity to make a tangible impact.

How does MJFF work toward a cure for Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease affects an estimated five million people worldwide and there is currently no known cure. As the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research, the Foundation works tirelessly to assess the field, prioritize the best research ideas (even if others won’t fund them) and work through challenges and roadblocks. Since our start, we’ve committed to being efficient with donor dollars, consistently spending 89 cents of every dollar toward research programs. We’re dedicated to that financial productivity but even prouder of what we do with the 89 cents: MJFF gets funds out to scientists quickly — usually within three months or less. We’ve been very transparent from day one: We are in business to get out of business and close our doors.

What strides have been made in Parkinson’s research since the foundation launched?

Parkinson’s research is at a turning point. Moving therapies from the laboratory to pharmacy shelves is a difficult journey, full of setbacks and obstacles. Today that drug development pipeline is filled with more promising treatments than ever. Potential therapies to slow or stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease, such as one that acts like a vaccine to harness the body’s natural fighters against disease are in clinical trials today. Other approaches strategically repurpose existing treatments for other diseases. And more are expected to begin testing in the next two years.We’ve also made strides in pushing more treatments forward to address the wide range of symptoms and side effects to help those living with PD maintain independence and quality-of-life.

You’ve worked alongside doctors, researchers, patients and families – how would you describe the Parkinson’s community?

We often say that when you’ve met one person with Parkinson’s, you’ve met one person with Parkinson’s. Every experience with the disease is different — from the symptoms to treatment — but one common thread for people in our community, in particular, is optimism. Our community includes clinicians, scientists and families across the world who are incredibly passionate about the same thing: accelerating a cure.

How has Michael’s positive and optimistic outlook inspired your daily life?

Michael has a rare combination of intellect, honesty and determination. I’ve said often that he is a remarkable person. Since getting to know Michael, I’ve learned so much professionally and personally. At his center is a sense of grace that I strive to emulate daily. It takes form in understanding people and their needs and generally giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. I’ve also tried to take his cues on balancing work and family and living positively while pursuing my passion.

What initiatives and projects with MJFF are you the most proud of?

More than ever before, patients can take part, make their voice heard and help us speed progress toward a cure. Volunteers — people with and without Parkinson’s — can do a great deal to impact progress and we want to help get them engaged. We’ve built (and are still building!) onramps to help folks do everything from register online for studies in their area, to take part in trials via wearable technology to report their daily experience directly to scientists, to fundraising in their communities and contacting government decision-makers and ask for Parkinson’s policies to become a priority.

As a mother, I’m also really proud of watching my twin 11-year-old daughters learn from the incredible things I’ve been able to do with the Foundation. Several times a year, we take part in activities to raise money for Team Fox, the Foundation’s grassroots fundraising arm. They’ve taken on cycling challenges and helped me organize an annual pancakes breakfast in our hometown. I’m inspired to see them taking on leadership roles and realize that no matter your age, you can play a role in philanthropy. It’s always been my goal to expose them early-on to a life of service, so they can take that value with them the rest of their lives.

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us size bust waist hip
00, XS 31.5 24 34
0, XS 32.5 25 35
2, XS 33.5 26 36
4, S 34.5 27 37
6, S 35.5 28 38
8, M 36.5 29 39
10, M 38 30.5 40.5
12, L 39.5 32 42
14, L 41 33.5 43.5
16, XL 42.5 35 45
18, 2XL 47 40 50
20, 2XL 49 42 52
22, 3XL 51 44 54
24, 3XL 53 46 56
US SIZE SHOULDERS BUST WAIST HIP
00, XS 14.25 31.5 24 34
0, XS 14.5 32.5 25 35
2, XS 14.75 33.5 26 36
4, S 15 34.5 27 37
6, S 15.25 35.5 28 38
8, M 15.5 36.5 29 39
10, M 15.875 38 30.5 40.5
12, L 16.25 39.5 32 42
14, L 16.625 41 33.5 43.5
16, XL 17 42.5 35 45
18, 2XL 17 47 40 50
20, 2XL 17.5 49 42 52
22, 3XL 18 51 44 54
24, 3XL 18.5 53 46 56
 Jacket Size Dickey Size

00

00 - 14

0

00 - 14

2

00 - 14

4

00 - 14

6

00 - 14

8

00 - 14

10

00 - 14

12

00 - 14

14

00 - 14

16

16 - 24

18

16 - 24

20

16 - 24

22

16 - 24

24

16 - 24

us size bust waist hip
00, XS 31.5 24 34
0, XS 32.5 25 35
2, XS 33.5 26 36
4, S 34.5 27 37
6, S 35.5 28 38
8, M 36.5 29 39
10, M 38 30.5 40.5
12, L 39.5 32 42
14, L 41 33.5 43.5
16, XL 42.5 35 45
18, 2XL 47 40 50
20, 2XL 49 42 52
22, 3XL 51 44 54
24, 3XL 53 46 56
us size bust waist hip
00, XS 31.5 24 34
0, XS 32.5 25 35
2, XS 33.5 26 36
4, S 34.5 27 37
6, S 35.5 28 38
8, M 36.5 29 39
10, M 38 30.5 40.5
12, L 39.5 32 42
14, L 41 33.5 43.5
16, XL 42.5 35 45
18, 2XL 47 40 50
20, 2XL 49 42 52
22, 3XL 51 44 54
24, 3XL 53 46 56
us size bust waist hip
00, XXS 31.5 24 34
0, XS 32.5 25 35
2, XS 33.5 26 36
4, S 34.5 27 37
6, S 35.5 28 38
8, M 36.5 29 39
10, M 38 30.5 40.5
12, L 39.5 32 42
14, L 41 33.5 43.5
16, XL 42.5 35 45
18, 2XL 47 40 50
20, 2XL 49 42 52
22, 3XL 51 44 54
24, 3XL 53 46 56
 US SIZE WAIST HIP
23 23 34
24 24 35
25 25 36
26 26 37
27 27 38
28 28 39
29 29 40
30 30.5 41.5
31 32 43
32 33.5 44.5
15 36 46
16 38 48
18 40 50
20 42 52
22 44 52
us size waist hip
00, 24, XS 24 34
0, 25, XS 25 35
2, 26, XS 26 36
4, 27, S 27 37
6, 28, S 28 38
8, 29, M 29 39
10, 30, M 30.5 40.5
12, 31, L 32 42
14, 32, L 33.5 43.5
16, 15, XL 35 45
18, 16, 2XL 40 50
20, 18, 2XL 42 52
22, 20, 3XL 44 54
24, 22, 3XL 46 56
us size waist hip
00, 24, XS 24 34
0, 25, XS 25 35
2, 26, XS 26 36
4, 27, S 27 37
6, 28, S 28 38
8, 29, M 29 39
10, 30, M 30.5 40.5
12, 31, L 32 42
14, 32, L 33.5 43.5
16, 15, XL 35 45
18, 16, 2XL 40 50
20, 18, 2XL 42 52
22, 20, 3XL 44 54
24, 22, 3XL 46 56
 US SIZE EUROPE UK
5 35 3
5.5 35.5 3.5
6 36 4
6.5 36.5 4.5
7 37 5
7.5 37.5 5.5
8 38 6
8.5 38.5 6.5
9 39 7
9.5 39.5 7.5
10 40 8
10.5 40.5 8.5
11 41 9
 US SIZE BUST WAIST HIP TORSO
XS 32-34 24-26 34-36 58.5
S 34-36 26-28 36-38 60
M 36-38.5 28-30.5 38-40.5 61.5
L 38.5-41.5 30.5-33.5 40.5-43.5 63
XL 41.5-43 33.5-35 43.5-45 64.5
2XL 47 40 50 70

Conversion Guide

VB US NUMERIC

VB US/INTL ALPHA

IT

FR

UK/AU

CN

KR

00/24

XXS

34

32

2

150/72A

33

0/25

XS

36

34

4

155/76A

44

2/26

XS

38

36

6

160/80A

44-55

4/27

S

40

38

8

165/84A

55-66

6/28

S

42

40

10

170/88A

66

8/29

M

44

42

12

175/92A

77

10/30

M

46

44

14

175/96A

77

12/31

L

48

46

16

180/100A

88

14/32

L

50

48

18

185/104A

88

16/15

XL

52

50

20

190/108A

99

18/16

2XL

54

52

22

195/112A

-

20/18

2XL

56

54

24

200/116A

-

22/20

3XL

58

56

26

205/120A

-

24/22

3XL

60

58

28

210/124A

-

Conversion Guide

VB US NUMERIC

VB US/INTL ALPHA

IT

FR

UK/AU

CN

KR

00/24

XXS

34

32

2

150/72A

33

0/25

XS

36

34

4

155/76A

44

2/26

XS

38

36

6

160/80A

44-55

4/27

S

40

38

8

165/84A

55-66

6/28

S

42

40

10

170/88A

66

8/29

M

44

42

12

175/92A

77

10/30

M

46

44

14

175/96A

77

12/31

L

48

46

16

180/100A

88

14/32

L

50

48

18

185/104A

88

16/15

XL

52

50

20

190/108A

99

18/16

2XL

54

52

22

195/112A

-

20/18

2XL

56

54

24

200/116A

-

22/20

3XL

58

56

26

205/120A

-

24/22

3XL

60

58

28

210/124A

-

How to measure the body:

Size Guide Diagram

How to measure the body:

  1. Shoulders: measured from shoulder blade to shoulder blade
  2. Bust: circumference measured at the fullest part of the chest
  3. Waist: circumference measured at the smallest part of the waist
  4. Hip: circumference measured at the fullest part of the hips (or 8” down from the waist)
  5. Sleeve length: measured from the center of the back of the neck to the wrist
  6. Inseam: measured from the top of inside the leg to the ankle
Have questions about sizing? Contact Us.

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