Stepping Out for Parkinson's helps raise research funds

June 30, 2016

Best friends, Barb Stonecipher of Round Lake, left, and Jodi Mara of Grayslake started the Stepping out for Parkinson's Walk in Round Lake after Mara was diagnosed with Parkinson's and wanted to take control of her life and try to do something to help find a cure.

Courtesy of Outlook Marketing Services Inc

On June 12, runners and walkers alike, made their way through the Nippersink Forest Preserve on a 1.5 mile walk for the Sixth Annual Stepping Out for Parkinson's Fun Run and Walk, to help raise funds for Parkinson's disease research at NorthShore University HealthSystem Neurological Institute. Physicians and scientists at NorthShore are helping to identify the best medication to prevent and treat the disease.

Following the walk, family and friends gathered for lunch and games and had the opportunity to participate in a raffle and bid on an array of silent auction items.

Behind this annual event are longtime friends Jodi Mara of Grayslake and Barb Stonecipher of Round Lake. Mara was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 10 years ago, and Stonecipher has been right by her side ever since, supplying plenty of emotional support.

A few years after the diagnosis, Mara didn't want to sit around and allow the illness to take control of her life and wanted to do something to help find a cure, so she and Stonecipher started this tradition.

"The Stepping Out for Parkinson's walk has taken place on the second Sunday of June for the last five years, and, with the unending help, energy and support of my good friend Barb, it will continue to take place each year at this time," Mara said.

"The event gives me inspiration, purpose, and strength to my fight this unwelcome partner in my life, and I hope that the funds raised through the event will help doctors and other researchers win the battle against this awful disease."

For more information about NorthShore, or ways to support the innovative care and research being provided by NorthShore Neurological Institute, call (224) 364-7200 or visit foundation.northshore.org. Additional details on the Stepping 

Out for Parkinson's Walk can be found at sofpd.myevent.com.

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