It was still cool in South Surrey’s Crescent Park when registration began for the annual Parkinson’s Superwalk on Sunday (Sept. 8).
As the morning warmed and the sun started streaming through the tips of the parks tall trees, more and more walk participants arrived, two-legged and some four-legged canine companions, as well as buggy, stroller, wagon, wheelchair and a bike or two.
Local walk organizer Karen Gibbs, who noted Liz Holroyd usually runs the show, is proud to walk every year in support of her husband, who was diagnosed with the degenerative disorder.
“It’s the largest fundraiser for Parkinson’s BC… for me, myself, it’s an opportunity to meet people in the community that are affected by Parkinson’s,” Gibbs said Sunday, with music playing in the background as MC Dean Donnelly got the gathered crowd warmed up.
“The first time we ever went to a Parkinson’s Superwalk, my husband had just been diagnosed. It was where we found someone who was running the support group in the community and lots of community support systems.”
Currently, it is estimated that approximately 100,000 Canadians – including 17,500 British Columbians – are living with the disease.
Having first experienced the neurological disease as a student nurse, then as a graduate nurse at UBC, Gibbs was “totally surprised” when her husband got his diagnosis.
“There are a lot of the symptoms nobody has any idea about… early on, a lot of people lose a sense of smell, or they experience GI issues – stomach issues – and a lot of stiffness involved that can often be attributed to something else, like arthritis,” Gibbs explained, prior to the walk.
White Rock Coun. Elaine Cheung thanked the crowd who showed up to support the walk before handing over the mic to Surrey-White Rock MLA Trevor Halford, who praised the walkers for their support and noted how far awareness about the disease has come.
Gibbs said before the walk that close to $20,000 had been raised – so far.
After a warm-up, participants were off on one of two route options at the park, smiling and chatting as they walked.
“Our community support has been so great! Local businesses have been so generous and it’s an excellent turnout,” Gibbs said.
Parkinson’s is caused by a loss of dopamine in the area of the brain called the substantia nigra. The cells that produce dopamine begin to die, reducing the amount of dopamine. While there are many theories about why the cells die, the exact reasons are unknown at this time, according to the walk website.
The symptoms of Parkinson’s appear when over half of the dopamine cells are lost. The progression of the disease and accompanying symptoms vary with each individual. There is currently no cure.
For more information about Parkinson’s disease, please visit parkinson.bc.ca
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