A legacy of love: The inspiring story behind ‘Tony’s Totes’

Now in its 20th year, the annual Sunflower Rev It Up for Parkinson’s WALK/RUN/RIDE on Sunday, Sept. 8, is more than just a fundraiser; it’s a living tribute to the resilience and dedication of those affected by Parkinson’s disease.

And at the forefront of this effort is a young woman determined to keep her grandfather’s legacy alive, one tote bag at a time.

Cackie Schwanekamp, 17-year-old senior at Saint Ursula Academy, is channeling the memory of her late grandfather, Anthony “Doc” Salem, MD, into a force for good. More than a physician, Salem, a self-proclaimed "Jack of all trades" but only licensed in medicine, was a 1962 graduate of the University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine who spent his life healing others and extending his hand to anyone in need.

Inspired by his commitment to helping others, Cackie's mother Michelle, Salem's daughter, formed “Team Doc,” comprised of family and close friends to more fully support the annual Sunflower Rev It Up event to honor his memory. 

“Our team is always ‘Team Doc,’ after his nickname,” says Schwanekamp. “The event is important to my family because it gives us a chance to connect with what my grandfather had to deal with.”

This year, “Team Doc” will work in a variety of ways throughout the weekend to help generate awareness and support for the ongoing research and educational efforts at UC’s Gardner Neuroscience Institute’s James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders. The event features a 1K walk, 5K walk/run, a 30K or 60K bike ride through the scenic routes of downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Despite her youth, Schwanekamp has embraced the entrepreneurial spirit. She’s already taken a UC Online business communications class and will continue her studies this fall with an Entrepreneurship and Engineering course through a UC program at Saint Ursula Academy.

For Schwanekamp, her journey into advocacy began at age 6, shortly after her grandfather’s diagnosis in 2013. By her eighth-grade year at Cardinal Pacelli School, she tackled her capstone project titled "Find a need in your community and make a difference" by getting  involved in the Sunflower Revolution Run/Bike fundraising event in a variety of ways.

But Schwanekamp wanted to do more.

In 2021, she launched “Tony’s Totes,” a project that combines her love for her grandfather with her passion for helping others. The totes are filled with items carefully selected to aid Parkinson’s patients in their daily lives, from crossword puzzles and brain teasers to stress balls and rubber hand exercisers.

Each tote also includes a QR code that links to Schwanekamp’s social media pages, where people can learn more about Parkinson’s disease, support the cause or contribute items via her Amazon wish list. 

At a recent Sunflower Rev It Up for Parkinson’s Symposium held at Loveland’s Oasis Conference Center, Schwanekamp handed out more than 100 of her carefully curated totes. “These are all things we wish my grandfather could have worked with more on a daily basis,” she says. “He loved crossword puzzles but would have loved some of the unique utensils and weighted equipment that really help slow down the tremors.”

Schwanekamp’s dedication is more than just admirable — it’s contagious. Her social media presence has sparked a wave of donations, enabling her to expand her efforts. “Once we started the Amazon wish list of items people could donate to our tote bags, things just started showing up at our doorstep,” she says, and she’s not stopping there.

The enterprising trailblazer is now applying for grants from local companies and organizations that support female-led initiatives. With the funds, she hopes to enhance the totes even further and outsource her branding, making "Tony’s Totes" a recognizable name in the fight against Parkinson’s.

Above: On left, Andrew Duker, UC Health specialist in neurological movement disorders was closely involved in Salem's care and continues to be instrumental in the success of the Parkinson's causes. On right, armed with hundreds of totes, donations from her Amazon wish list and the support of her community, Schwanekamp, shown here with her mother Michelle, is determined to continue her grandfather’s legacy of care and compassion, one bag at time. Photos/provided

The support from UC’s Gardner Neuroscience Institute has been instrumental in the project’s growth. The institute not only helps promote “Tony’s Totes” but also provides Schwanekamp with custom-printed signage and a booth at their events, where she can distribute her bags and connect with the UC Parkinson’s community.

“The conferences and events we attend are to help provide outreach to newly diagnosed Parkinson’s families to help them prepare their houses, know what to expect and provide support groups for caregivers. Events like the annual symposium are not just about the patients, so while my grandfather was alive, many members of our family would attend," Schwanekamp says with a smile.

"It's like wrapping the whole family in a big, warm blanket of love and support."

On the Sept. 8, Sunflower Rev It Up for Parkinson’s WALK/RUN/RIDE, supporters will once again lace up their sneakers, hop on their bikes and hit the pavement. But the real race, for Schwanekamp, is the one toward a future where no one has to face Parkinson’s alone.

• Learn more about “Tony’s Totes” on Facebook or Instagram
• Donate to "Tony's Totes" Amazon wish list
• Register to participate in the 20th annual Sunflower Rev It Up for Parkinson’s WALK/RUN/RIDE

Featured image at top: A younger Schwanekamp in lower left surrounded by her extended family enjoyed attending an earlier Rev It Up for Parkinson's event with her grandfather on right in plaid shirt. Photo/provided