"The value of an idea lies in the using of it," wrote no less an authority on mental light bulbs than Thomas Edison. Nenad Bach (pictured, the good guy in the black hat) needs no convincing on the subject. The Croatian-born composer has made a career of inventing ways to wage peace through music. A decade ago, Bach was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, which robbed him of the ability to play guitar. On a whim, he decided to go play ping-pong with a friend. Afterward, he noticed his symptoms had improved. Bach played more, and felt better still. In time, he regained the ability to play guitar. Eager to share his personal miracle, Bach founded Ping Pong Parkinson, which meets weekly at the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, New York. There, Bach worked with club owner Will Shortz to organize the 2019 ITTF Parkinson's World Table Tennis Championships (PWTTC). Last October 12-13, over 60 players from a dozen countries joined the club for the groundbreaking event. On the heels of such smashing success, Berlin campaigned to host the 2020 PWTTC. The championships found the perfect sponsor in YUVEDO, a company devoted to improving the lives of Parkinson's patients through exercise. As you might have guessed, COVID-19 threw a pipe wrench in the works. Originally slated for August of this year, the PWTTC has been postponed twice, leaving competitors from around the world in limbo. Now, the local organizing committee in Berlin has issued its final answer. The next PWTTC will be held September 9-11, 2021. The sponsor YUVEDO is still on board, and the hosts are hoping for 300 participants. "The world wide reaction has been quite phenomenal, very emotional, you know you are not alone," says Nenad Bach. "However, the most important factor is that the tournament brings people together." The value of Nenad Bach's idea for Ping Pong Parkinson lay in his using of it. Now, like Edison's light bulb, it is spreading the light of hope around the world.

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