YARMOUTH, N.S. — On Saturday, Sept. 28, members of the Parkinson Canada Tri-County Patient and Caregiver Support Group will be participating in the Yarmouth SuperWalk.
This is the 29th year for the SuperWalk, organized by Parkinson Canada, during which thousands of Canadians will be coming together to walk in support of people living with Parkinson’s disease.
This year Rita Fitzgerald, 61, will take part in Parkinson SuperWalk for the third time.
“I walk each year because I want to spread awareness of the disease to others,” she says. Fitzgerald wants others to be open about their battle with Parkinson’s.
“Don’t be afraid to talk about it. It doesn’t need to be a secret.”
The Parkinson Canada Tri-County Patient and Caregiver Support Group meets monthly and provides people support in managing this condition.
Parkinson’s affects more than 100,000 Canadians, with 25 people being diagnosed every day. The numbers of diagnoses are expected to increase to 51 by 2031. Due to these numbers, Parkinson’s is one of the fastest growing neurological conditions in the world. It is also one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases.
This means that continued support is needed in order to fund research to find a cure and the SuperWalk is a chance to fundraise for the cause. Since 1981, Parkinson Canada has invested more than $29 million in research.
“We want to thank SuperWalk participants who continue to raise significant funds and increase public awareness of our charity,” says Joyce Gordon, CEO of Parkinson Canada.
“These funds help us to greatly impact the lives of those living with Parkinson’s, their caregivers and health-care professionals, and offer hope for a future without Parkinson’s. For these individuals, a cure can’t wait.”
When you walk in a Parkinson Canada SuperWalk you support: research to find a cure and to improve quality of life; advocacy for better public policies and programs to improve the quality of life; information and referral services accessible to anyone, anywhere in Canada; support groups so that all who need information and help receive it from those who can best provide it; and education so that people living with Parkinson's are informed and empowered to live well.
Check-in for the Yarmouth walk on Sept, 28 will be at noon, with the walk starting at 1 p.m. Registration can be completed online.
About Parkinson Canada
Parkinson Canada provides services and education to people living with Parkinson’s disease, their families, and the health-care professionals who treat them. Operating since 1965, the organization advocates on issues that concern the Parkinson’s community in Canada. The Parkinson Canada Research Program funds innovative research for better treatments and a cure. A national registered charity, Parkinson Canada fulfils its mission through the generosity of donors and is an accredited organization under the Imagine Canada Standards Program. Parkinson Canada participates in numerous coalitions and partnerships to effectively fulfill its mission.
