Member hopes walk for Parkinson’s will spark interest for support group

Aug. 8, 2016

Gordon Goodyear holds three-year-old Annabelle while Parkinson's Walk committee member Tammy Taylor helps her with her cape for the 2015 walk in Bracebridge.

BRACEBRIDGE — A small community group in south Muskoka is hoping a national walk will raise funds in the fight against Parkinson’s Disease, as well as raise interest for new members.

The annual SuperWalk for Parkinson's Disease is slated for Sept. 10 at the Bracebridge Public School, 90 McMurray Street, an event Janet Macey plans to attend in hopes of drumming up a little local support.

The Bracebridge resident was diagnosed with the disease a decade ago, and for the past eight years has belonged to the local support group. However, she fears the group may be closing down if more people don't join.

“We are sort of a faltering group right now,” she said. “We have lost a lot of our membership. We are sort of doing a little bit here and a little bit there with the ones who are left.”

Macey said the group had around 20 people when she first joined. Today, on paper there are around 15 people still on board, but many do not attend the monthly meetings, which are held every second Monday. 

“It is a support group for people with Parkinson’s and their families,” Macey said. “A lot of people with (multiple sclerosis) come to our meetings because we are related in a sense because they are both neurological diseases … with some similarities.”

She said she and the “old stalwarts” meet anyway, even if there is not a large number in attendance. 

“We like to have guest speakers, but we don't want them to come if there’s just a small group,” she said. “People who move up here may not know there is a group in Bracebridge. I don't know what the reason is, but I do know there are people who have Parkinson’s in the region, who aren’t well enough to come out to the meetings. There are families members who may have the time to come, but they may be busy helping their loved ones.”  

As for the walk, Macey said she and her husband Helmut Zapfe would be participating in this year’s event. She did attend the walk last year, her first time being part of the fundraiser. 

She said that she hopes the event would help raise funds for Parkinson’s Canada, but also allow the participants to discover the presence of the support group.

“I hope there will be more awareness, actually,” she said. “We would like people to come out and help sponsor because we need the money for research.”

The Parkinson SuperWalk is the largest nationwide fundraising event for Parkinson Canada with more than 10,000 people from coast to coast organizing and taking part in the event, which will be held Sept. 10 or 11 in communities throughout Canada. 

Last year’s event helped to raise $2.7 million across Canada. Since 1990, the walk has brought in more than $33 million for support services, research, advocacy and education. 

For more information visit parkinsonsuperwalk.ca or call 1-800-565-3000. 

Check-in time for the Bracebridge walk is 10:30 a.m. at the school with the walk starting at 11 a.m.

http://www.muskokaregion.com/news-story/6800407-member-hopes-walk-for-parkinson-s-will-spark-interest-for-support-group/