Vicky and John Stewart of Stewie's Shakers will be participating in this year's Brantford-Brant Walk It for Parkinson's, which takes place Sept. 7.
John Stewart will be leading the charge at this year’s Brantford-Brant County Walk-It for Parkinson’s.
Supported by family and friends, the Waterford man will be seeking to raise money and awareness of the disease that affects more than 100,000 Canadians.
For Stewart, who was officially diagnosed in 2012, this year’s walk is especially poignant because he soon could be realizing one of the benefits of the fundraising initiative.
“I’m hoping to get deep brain stimulation surgery sometime within the next eight months,” he said. “If that happens, and I really hope it will, I think it will make a big difference in my life.
“Right now, I’m on 34 drugs a day. That surgery could cut the amount of meds I take in half.”
Deep brain stimulation surgery can be used to treat symptoms associated with Parkinson’s, including tremors and stiffness. The surgery includes the placement of a neuro-stimulator – a device the size of stopwatch that is similar to a pacemaker. The device transmits electrical stimulation to specific areas of the brain to block the abnormal nerve signals that cause symptoms associated with Parkinson’s. An MRI is used prior to the surgery to locate spots with problem nerve signals.
Tiny electrodes, which look like dental floss, are inserted into the brain through a tiny hole in the skull. The electrodes are connected to a wire that runs from under the skin of the patient’s head, neck and shoulder to connect to the neurostimulator placed underneath the collar bone.
“This is why the walk is so important,” said Stewart, whose team, Stewie’s Shakers, is a regular participant in the fundraising walk. “The money raised goes into research and into programs that help people with Parkinson’s.
“It also helps with awareness, letting people know what’s available to help patients, especially those who have been newly diagnosed.”
This year’s walk takes place Sept. 7 at Mohawk Park with registration starting at 1 p.m. and the walk starting at 2 p.m.
Stewart said the walk usually attracts about 50 people. Last year, about $12,000 was raised, he said.
“We’re hoping to get those numbers up a bit this year,” he said.
“We’d like to get a few more participants and raise a bit more money.”
To learn more about Walk-It for Parkinson’s visit http://events.parkinsonsociety.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=EventCentral_Landing .
https://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/news/local-news/walk-it-for-parkinsons-raises-money-and-awareness
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