Fighting Parkinson's disease mile by mile

Sept. 5, 2016

"Keep on moving," a benefit event to raise awareness and funds to fight Parkinson's disease will be held at Worthington Park on Saturday, Oct. 1. The benefit will include three different events: the Cycling for Parkinsons 20 or 50 mile ride, Operation Free Parkinson's 5K run/walk and a silent auction held in the Shelter House of the Tulip Trestle.

Parkinson's is still a disease without a cure which causes complications listed as the 14th top cause of death in the United States, according to the National Parkinson's Foundation website.

To help fund the hunt for a cure, a benefit event is being held at Worthington Park on Oct. 1. 

Entitled "Keep on moving", the event centers around movement, because Parkinson's disease affects movement so heavily. 

The event will include Cycling for Parkinson's rides, the Operation Free Parkinson's 5k walk/run as well as a silent auction.

Local Darla Moore has had her family affected by Parkinson's disease through several generations. She helped organize this event in memory of Bill and Darrell Dunigan, who both lost their lives to Parkinson's disease.

Darrell Dunigan was Moore's father, and Bill was her uncle. Moore's cousin and son have also been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Bill and Darrel Dunigan are both natives of Coal City, Ind. Darrell and his wife Judy had three children, (LeRae, Leon and Darla) in Worthington, IN. Bill Dunigan and his 

wife Judy also raised their three children (LeRae, Leon and Darla) in Worthington, IN. 

"Our hope is by raising money we can find a cure so that no other wife, daughter, son or grandchild has to watch their loved one succumb to this horrible disease. These brothers were independent, strong and sometimes stubborn men that loved their families with all their hearts. Our hearts were broken when Parkinson's disease took them from us much too soon," said Moore.

There will be two lengths for the Cycling for Parkinsons event. The 20-mile ride starts at 10:30 a.m. and will go to the town of Clay City and then back to the park. The other ride is a 50 mile ride which starts at 10 a.m. and travels through Greene and Clay Counties. 

The Operation Free Parkinson's 5K event will go through the streets of Worthington and starts at 11 a.m.

The silent auction will be held in the Shelter House of the Tulip Trestle starting at 9:30 a.m. Prizes will be awarded around 12:30 p.m., which includes prizes such as tickets to Holiday World, the Indianapolis Zoo and the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

The participants of both events will each receive one free raffle ticket, with additional tickets available for purchase.

Food will be available for all participants and donations accepted for non-participants.

To register for this event, visit www.facebook/cyclingparkinson, or contact Darla Moore to find out more information by emailing darla.moore67@gmail.com.

http://www.gcdailyworld.com/story/2336459.html