Parkinson SuperWalk on Sunday, September 7 at Rotary Lakeside Park
By Contributor
Family, friends and neighbours are teaming up to fight Parkinson’s. Their special power – hope! Join our community heroes at the 19th annual Parkinson SuperWalk on Sunday, September 7, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Rotary Lakeside Park.
Participants can register by visiting www.parkinson.bc.ca.
SuperWalk is the largest national fundraising event for Parkinson’s disease and this September, 110 communities across Canada and 21 communities throughout BC will join the fight to find a cure. In BC, our goal isto raise $425,000 and nationwide, the aim is to raise $3 million.
Kaslo resident Jeff Zilkie (see photo) was diagnosed with Parkinson’s six years ago, at the age of 47. Jeff and his wife, Jacqueline, first heard about Parkinson SuperWalk while attending a Nelson support group meeting in June. They registered for the Walk and have already raised $3,565 – the second highest fundraising total in BC! “The support has been overwhelming and truly humbling,” says Jacqueline. “It’s with heartfelt gratitude that we continue on this journey.”
Friends and family from BC and Alberta will join Jeff and Jacqueline for SuperWalk.“We hope people learn more about this disease and know that Parkinson’s is not just about ‘one day’, it’s every day,” says Jacqueline. “To come out and show support on September 7th would be a wonderful way to give encouragement to those of us that are living with Parkinson’s and for those that may be affected in the future.”
Proceeds from SuperWalk go to Parkinson’s research, education and support services provided by Parkinson Society British Columbia (PSBC). Last year, PSBC funded (with our regional partners) over $1.27 million in innovative research through the National Research Program. PSBC also hosted education conferences across the province with expert speakers, managed 52 support groups, produced the documentary, Undefeated. An Intimate Portrait of Parkinson’s, developed and distributed 2,500 copies of the booklet, Parkinson’s Disease: Understanding and Moving Forward and spoke one-on-one with more than 1,700 individuals seeking information.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s is the second most common degenerative neurological disorder after Alzheimer’s. It is estimated that 11,000 British Columbians and more than 100,000 Canadians live with the disease. It is cruel and unforgiving causing tremors, rigidity, postural instability, difficulty talking, walking and swallowing, reduced facial expression, and in some cases, depression and dementia. The debilitating effects of Parkinson’s are felt not only by the person with the disease, but their entire family. It knows no bounds and can strike anyone – women and men of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles. There is currently no known cure.
