The summer of 2020 has seen lives disrupted and even lost in many communities around the world due to Covid-19. The pandemic has been our focus in the news and caused the redirection of attention, funding and our health services away from other priorities that many people are facing every day. Those of us with Parkinson’s disease know all too well what price we paid when the need to isolate overtook our need for support and activities. We lost our TKO (boxing) classes, monthly meetings, support groups, and the ability to raise funds for more local programs, research, education and the elusive search for a cure as the priority for a vaccine to stop Covid-19 in its tracks is a Global priority.
So if we can’t walk in our National Parkinson’s SuperWalk Fundraisers, what are we to do?
At the beginning of May, a simple answer came to me, “Just Walk”. Flashes of Tom Hanks in Forest Gump, as well as “Harry McMurtry” walking from New York to Toronto (500 Miles) in 2016 For Parkinson’s ( https://people.com/celebrity/harry-mcmurtry-walks-500-miles-and-raises-500000-for-parkinsons/) and Terri Fox perhaps the most famous walker of all doing it for cancer. With no ability to leave home for the summer, I decided to try to walk 800,000 steps (467 km.) from May 1 to September 12, 2020. I would keep track of my steps with my I-Phone and enter them daily into a spread to track and monitor my progress.
My plan is to walk every day (134 days) with an average distance of 6000 steps (3.5 km) would get me to my goal of 800,000 steps of Gratitude for the 25 years of SuperWalk in Peterborough reaching a total of over $765,000 raised to date with this years’ donations hopefully pushing us over the $800,000. My personal goal was originally set to raise $2,000 for SuperWalk.
So how am I doing? GREAT! Feeling excellent with a few Parkinson symptoms getting in the way of my walking but ahead of schedule hitting the 400,000-step milestone by June 23, 2020. As well as raising over 90% of my donations to-date.
On June 22nd I will have completed over 400,000 Steps (232 km.) which will be the halve way point. Please consider sharing my post with your friends and family that able to support us with a donation. We promise a great party on September 12 at The Mount Community Centre if in the clear from the isolation requirements
I will continue walking “No Matter What” and reset my targets for both steps and donations throughout the summer. Watch for updates every 200,000 steps or follow me at www.joewithpd.com or https://donate.parkinson.ca/site/TR/SuperWalk2020/CNO_superwalk?px=1211857&pg=personal&fr_id=2448
Yet to be Modified for NEW EVENT in same location and time. Hold this date in your calender!