Walking for Parkinson's research

Aug. 25, 2016

Brant News

By Victoria Gray 

A little red sports car kept Gerald and Jane Freeman sane on the bad days. 

“It always meant whatever happened we were in it together,” he said. 

Jane was diagnosed with parkinson's disease in 1983 when she was 39-years-old and at that time there wasn't a lot known about the degenerative neurological disorder and the mother of five boys was often anxious about the future, but Gerald comforted her on one of her darkest days by telling her when the disease became too much for her to handle they would go out and buy a little red sports car and go play in traffic. 

“I don't know why I said it, or what I was thinking other than I wanted her to know I would always be there for her,” he said. “Whenever she would have a bad day, I would say, 'well, Jane, is it time to go get that little red sports car?' and we'd laugh about it.”

The couple knew there was no way of knowing what the future held for Jane or how her disease would progress, but they found comfort and comradery with parkinson's support groups in their hometown, Simcoe and later in Brantford through the Parkinson Society of Southwestern Ontario. 

“It helped us to know what others were going through and to know some of things they were doing to help and their treatments,” he said. 

Jane's journey with parkinson's lasted 28-years and for many of those hey participated in events like Walk It for Parkinson's. 

“The walk gives us hope, hope for better treatment options, hope for more information about causes, hope for new research projects,” he said. 

This year the annual event, rebranded as Walk-It for Parkinson's will take supporters and those diagnosed on a one kilometer to five kilometre walk through Mohawk Park in Brantford on September 10, at 1:30 p.m. 

Steve Hickson, coordinator of special events for the Parkinson's Society of Southwestern Ontario said 

all pledged walkers will receive a pedometer to take part in the One Million Step Challenge across the region. 

“We're really excited about that and hope we can reach that million step goal,” he said. 

He also said this year, as the foundation has changed it's structure all funds raised in the region will stay in the region and will go toward funding research, support groups and educational programming. 

“From personal experience I think it's still one of those diseases that people don't really understand,” Hickson said. “We advocate and make sure the government has programs to support those with Parkinson's and research.” 

For more information about the walk or to register visit www.walk-it.ca.

http://www.brantnews.com/news-story/6826977-walking-for-parkinson-s-research/