Photo courtesy Parkinson Association of Alberta

By Chantal Wagner

September 12th

Virtual walk for Parkinson Association of Alberta

Sep 3, 2020 | 1:42 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Virtual events seem to be the new normal and the 8^th annual Step’n Stride will also take place online.

The walk is for the Parkinson Association of Alberta and it’s their largest fundraiser for the Parkinson community.

Though it will look different, funds and awareness will still be raised across Alberta.

Operations Manager Brandi La Bonte says it’s important to support the people who live with Parkinson Disease in Alberta and their families.

She says in the last six months, they have received just as many calls as they do in a year for their programs and services.

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And since March, they moved quickly to move their programs and services online.

“So we’ve really noticed that some of our people, not all of them, but a good number are struggling. With Parkinson’s disease, one of the things that can happen is apathy. So there’s a chemical change that goes on in the brain that leads you to really kind of lose that motivation to do those things that are so very important in Parkinson Disease. Thinks like exercise and remembering to take your medication on time.”

The virtual walk takes place on September 12.

The provincial goal is a bit less in years past at $250,000 for the 2020 event, though La Bonte says Alberta is a generous province and their stretch goal is to raise $400,000.

To register or donate, you can visit this link.

Participants can walk, bike, run, swim, or participate in a virtual fitness class.

“Though the location has changed, why we walk hasn’t changed at all. It’ still about getting together as a community and raising funds and awareness to support people who live with Parkinson Disease in Alberta all year long,” La Bonte added.

(CHAT News Today)