The 2019 edition of the annual event took place on Saturday, Sept. 7 from Wellesley Park in Wakamow Valley, drawing close to 100 walkers and supporters looking to build on the more than $42,000 raised through the first three years of the charity walk.
“We’re really happy with that,” said SuperWalk organizer Sandra Luchia. “And we have a really good, strong support group in town that sees their family and friends come out and support them. So that’s the basis for today, doing what we can to raise awareness while raising a bit of money at the same time.”
The SuperWalk did have a bit of a sombre note attached to it. Each Walk features a Local Hero, with Richard Molde chosen as the local representative due to his fundraising efforts and longtime support in spite of his own battle with Parkinson’s Disease. The Molde family annually holds a Pedal for Parkinson’s event at their summer cottage, with the fundraiser having brought in thousands of dollars to the SuperWalk over the years. Molde passed away before he could take part in the 2019 SuperWalk, but members of his family were still on hand to take part.
“We really wish he could have been here, they’ve done so much for us and their family has been so supportive,” Luchia said.
While the final fundraising total for this year was unavailable as of press time, Luchia was certain it would be just as impressive as in years past – and ideally, will continue on in similar fashion in years to come.
“I just hope that we can continue to do it and get people out every year,” she said. “If it gets bigger that would be wonderful, but just that we’re holding it and doing what we can to help is the main thing.”
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative neuro-muscular condition that causes tremors, loss of balance and slowness of movement and can become more and more debilitating as time goes on.
The Moose Jaw Parkinson Canada support group meets the fourth Monday of the month from September to June at 1:30 p.m. at the Hillcrest Church, offering another avenue for education and assistance with the disease.
“Anyone out there who knows a loved one who has been diagnosed or yourself having been diagnosed, I’d encourage you to join the support group,” Luchia said. “We don’t just sit around and mope, it’s all about being positive, we watch videos and things like that, do what we can to educate people and help them cope with Parkinson’s.”
For more information on Parkinson’s, check out www.parkinson.ca. For further information on the local support group, contact Kelly Pierson at 306-545-4400 or at kell.pierson@parkinson.ca
