Beyond the Shake: How a Sacramento Voice Is Rewriting the Parkinson's Story

For decades, Jeff Bell’s voice was the sound of Sacramento mornings. You’d hear him on KFBK radio here in town, then later on KCBS radio in San Francisco, delivering news and conversation to thousands of listeners who trusted him to show up consistent and clear. Then, in 2022, something shifted. His body started moving in ways he didn’t recognize. His walking became labored. His concentration wavered. But the voice on the radio kept going—until it couldn’t anymore.

Bell retired early to find answers, spending a full year searching for a diagnosis. When it finally came from a UCSF specialist, it carried a name most people think they already understand: Parkinson’s disease. Here’s the thing, though—most of us don’t actually understand it at all.

That’s the real story driving Moving Day, the Parkinson’s Foundation’s awareness and fundraising event that took place in Sacramento this past Saturday. Bell, now serving on the California chapter advisory board for the Parkinson’s Foundation, has become a vocal advocate for something most disease awareness campaigns miss: the fact that Parkinson’s is not just about tremors. It’s cognitive. It’s stiffness. It’s swallowing problems. It’s a whole constellation of symptoms that often go unrecognized for years, delaying diagnosis and leaving patients isolated and confused. Bell knows this personally. And he’s using what’s left of his platform to change how Sacramento—and beyond—thinks about the disease.

Since launching Moving Day back in 2011, the Parkinson’s Foundation has raised $56 million. But according to development manager Donna Cline, the money is only half the mission. The real work is reminding families affected by Parkinson’s that they’re not alone—that there’s a community ready to support, help, and care for them. In a region as spread out and disconnected as ours can feel, that message of connection might be just as vital as the research dollars.

Bell’s voice may have quieted on the airwaves, but his advocacy is louder than ever. And this time, it’s aimed at something far more personal than ratings.