Harry McMurtry is congratulated by supporters including his father, former Ontario Chief Justice Roy McMurtry, on Monday, June 20, 2016, after he and two colleagues walked 800 km (500 miles) from New York City to Toronto to raise funds for research into Parkinson's disease.
TORONTO — Most people who visit New York don’t walk home.
But Harry McMurtry did just that Monday, finishing an 800-kilometre trip on foot to Toronto to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease.
The 54-year-old, who has been living with Parkinson’s since 2005, said the walk — backed by Canadian celebrities ranging from Wayne Gretzky to Tom Cochrane — was the best way to raise awareness for the disabling illness.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, right, congratulates walkers, left to right, Ross Sugar, Sue Thompson and Harry McMurtry at the conclusion of their 500-mile walk for Parkinson's disease, on June 20, 2016.
He has been accompanied every step of the way by fellow Torontonian Sue Thompson and Baltimore native Ross Sugar, who both have Parkinson’s. They started walking in May.
Parkinson’s is a progressive, debilitating neurodegenerative disease that manifests in a broad range of symptoms affecting muscles and the nervous system.
“There is a stigma attached to having a disability — you talk funny, you look funny, you walk funny,” McMurtry said.
“We want to show people that they don’t have to stay in the shadows. Come out and lead fulfilling lives, like we do.”
Now living in New York, McMurtry, the son of former Ontario chief justice Roy McMurtry, wanted to unite the two cities and two countries in an effort to fight the disease.
“Parkinson’s knows no borders,” he said. “I came to this idea of walking because it’s one of the activities I can still do well, so I thought, ‘Why don’t I walk from New York to Toronto?’ ”
Mayor John Tory greeted the trio at Osgoode Hall, and several other dignitaries met them at Queen’s Park, including McMurtry’s father, Premier Kathleen Wynne and former premier Bill Davis.
Now that the journey is completed, McMurtry is thrilled the walkers were able to reach their goal.
“You never know your limits until you test them,” he said. “I feel like I tested my limits and I came out on top of the disease.”
National Post
By the numbers
• The journey began on May 6.
• The trio walked up to 24 kilometres a day for 45 days.
• They started in the Bronx and reached the Canadian border at the beginning of June, walking through cities like Ottawa, Kingston and Belleville before reaching Toronto.
• The goal of 500 Miles for Parkinson’s is to raise $500,000 for research into the disease. A donation page has been set up on the event’s website fivehundredmiles.org. Proceeds will be shared among three foundations.
• The event officially wraps up Wednesday, June 22, with a party at 7 p.m. at Steam Whistle Roundhouse in Toronto.
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/you-never-know-your-limits-until-you-test-them-trio-walks-from-new-york-city-to-toronto-for-parkinsons?
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