Parkinson is not just an old person disease.
That’s what Gull Lake area resident, Sonja McAlpin, believes is a basic misconception out there about the condition.
The central Alberta resident was at the Parkinson Association of Alberta’s seventh annual Parkinson Step ‘n Stride event at the Golden Circle Senior Resource Centre in Red Deer Sunday morning.
“They say it’s an old person disease, I’m 65 now, I was diagnosed at 62,” she said. “And there’s people such as Michael J. Fox and lots of other people who are diagnosed very early, so it’s not an old person disease anymore.”
The Gull Lake area resident has been supporting the annual event in Red Deer, since she was diagnosed, about three years ago.
“It gives you an avenue to meet other people,” she said, emphasizing the importance of finding the connections and resources and people with similar stories to help with the journey.
McAlpin was first diagnosed with an arm tremor, which then developed in her leg, but is now steady on her medication.
She finds the Parkinson Association of Alberta’s services and resources helpful and therefore wants to see the annual event prosper.
The money raised by the association in the region is used to provide no-cost support services and education vital to living well with Parkinson disease.
The symptoms vary for different people. She explained the support network she is part of, has people who go through life facing different types of symptoms. But at the end of the day, they all support one another.
“It’s a good morale booster,” McAlpin said.
As for the weather for the walk Sunday, the central Alberta resident said, it did not bother her to walk in the rain, as she and her family had umbrellas.
The weather did not bother Diana Huston, a Clive resident, who was also part of the Sunday event, to support some of her husband’s side of the family with Parkinson’s.
She emphasized the importance of friends and family support for those who have the disease.
“And this is one way we’re showing our support,” said Huston before her walk.
Dacey Cooper-Varga, fund development manager for the Parkinson Association of Alberta, said the goal for this year in Red Deer is to raise about $41,000.
More than $21,000 was raised as of Sunday, but more pledges were expected to come in until October, the fund development manager explained.
She noted raising money at the association’s signature event is important, because of the no-cost services, the association is able to provide with the help of the funding.
Cooper-Varga said the money is used for professional counselling, one-on-one support for those with the disease as well as their care partners, education and research.
“It allows our clients and care partners to not feel alone with the disease and they can be in the Parkinson community and be around people who are going through similar symptoms,” she added.
Cooper-Varga was expecting about 100 people to be part of the event Sunday, which was about the same as last year’s attendance numbers.
More than $35,000 was raised in Red Deer last year, and over $400,000 across the province.
https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/central-albertans-brave-wet-weather-to-fight-parkinson-disease/
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