Ski for Parkinson’s event to carve the trails at Haymaker on Sunday

 Leah Vann         January 24, 2019

Participants at the annual Ski for Parkinson’s event pause for a photo. (File photo by Matt Stensland)

IF YOU GO

When: 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 27

Where: Haymaker Nordic Center, 34855 East U.S. Highway 40

Cost: $75 for full day of skiing and lunch; $50 for skiing or lunch

Drawing tickets for prize: 

one for $10, three for $25, six for $50, 10 for $75 or 15 for $100

Register or donate:engage.parkinsonrockies.org/site/TR?fr_id=1170&pg=entry

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Skiers will be able to enjoy a day of fun at Haymaker Nordic Center for a good cause this weekend.

The fifth annual Ski for Parkinson’s event will take place Sunday, Jan. 27.

The event was started in 2014 by a group of avid skiers involved in Parkinson’s Nordic ski classes at Haymaker Nordic Center.

Together, they thought a Nordic ski event would be a great fundraiser for the Yampa Valley Parkinson’s Support Group, which provides free care for people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers. Now, the event averages between 150 and 175 participants per year and also receives donations online.

“Exercise is universally agreed upon as one way to slow the progression of Parkinson’s,” said Carolyn Klingener, Ski for Parkinson’s event coordinator andYampa Valley Parkinson’s Support Group board president. “The YVPSN provides exercise classes to anyone with Parkinson’s and their care partners free of charge.”

Exercise classes are held seven days a week and include Essentrics, yoga, strength and balance, boxing, aquatics, Nordic skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. The organization also provides a support group and educational opportunities.

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s Disease. About seven to 10 million people in the world are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, including one million Americans. Each year, about 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and a number of additional cases go undiagnosed.

“As with many diseases, it is important to have a network that supports you physically, emotionally and socially,” Klingener said. “In addition, YVPSN provides support to caregivers who are also impacted by a loved one's disease.”

The event will start at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, where locals can enjoy a full day of skiing, snowshoeing or fat biking at Haymaker. The $75 entry fee covers the full event, which includes a full lunch with a drink ticket and an additional coupon to use at Haymaker or the Ski Touring Center. Others can swing by for just skiing or lunch for $50.

There will be live entertainment along with a a drawing for 22 prizes.

Winners of the drawings are not required to be present to win, and teams and costumes are encouraged.

People can still register online through Friday, Jan. 25, or they can just come on Sunday. People who aren’t able to attend can donate online at engage.parkinsonrockies.org/site/TR?fr_id=1170&pg=entry.

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