All across Canada on the weekend of September 10th and 11th, people will walk to fundraise for Parkinson’s with funds going to research, support services, education and advocacy.
In Saugeen Shores & Kincardine District, participants and their family and friends will walk or roll their way along the Lake Huron shoreline beginning at North Shore Park in Port Elgin, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Participants are welcome to register as an individual or to start their own team with family members, co-workers, and friends. If they are unable to attend, they can fundraise as a virtual walker to contribute to the WALK-IT event’s fundraising goal.
Register online at walkforpd.ca or call 1.888.851.7376.
Invite friends or family to join you by registering to walk, donating or becoming part of your online fundraising team.
During and after the walk, participants will enjoy fun activities and refreshments. Many events feature door prizes, dance or exercise demonstrations geared towards people with limited mobility, children’s activities, and a silent auction.
Parkinson’s shows no social, ethnic, economic or geographic boundaries. Approximately 10,000 individuals currently live with Parkinson’s disease in Southwestern Ontario. Symptoms typically begin to appear at age 55 to 60 years, although 10% of all people diagnosed with Parkinson’s will be under the age of 40. Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease.
It is a slow, progressive neurodegenerative disorder, making activities of daily living difficult for someone who has the disease. Primary symptoms associated with Parkinson’s include tremor, rigidity, slow movement, postural instability, loss of balance control, soft speech, and sleep disturbances. Other symptoms include depression, anxiety, dementia, memory problems and difficulty with communication.
Among the most famous who have been affected by Parkinson’s is actor Michael J. Fox and boxer Muhammad Ali.
Locally in Saugeen Shores, Pastor (ret’d) Robert (Bob) Cotie is the lead individual fundraiser to date.
Current research projects are aiming to form a deeper understanding of the causes and the treatment options for people living with Parkinson’s.
