Lace up your runners and grab a friend for the Parkinson’s SuperWalk in Sparwood. Terry Hume is organizing and walking in the fundraiser at 11 am on Saturday, September 14 on team ‘Going For It.’
This year, with the Elk Valley and Cranbrook hosting organized walks, participating is more convenient. This will be Sparwood’s first SuperWalk but Hume’s third. “In previous years, we had to travel to Invermere or Nelson,” said Hume. “We welcome all challengers; the more the merrier.”
The walk will start at the Sparwood Seniors’ Centre on Fourth Avenue and will go to the library. What seems a relatively short walk will be a challenge for some people with Parkinson’s. Some of the symptoms of the degenerative neurological disorder are tremors, rigidity, postural instability and difficulty walking. “There will be a longer route for those who are able,” said Hume.
Hume got involved because he had started a support group in Sparwood after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2007. “When I was diagnosed, I didn’t know anyone else who had the disease. It’s nice to band together.” There are approximately a dozen people in the Elk Valley but there are mainly six members who join in the monthly support group at the Sparwood library.
Organizations, businesses, families and friends can walk together and enjoy the triumph of teamwork while raising critical funds for Parkinson’s research, support services and education.
Participants of the SuperWalk can look forward to a luncheon following the walk at the Seniors’ Centre with numerous prizes awarded and a silent auction is in the works as well. If you’d like to take part individually or as a team, you can contact Terry at 250-425-2404 or go to www.parkinson.bc.ca to register.