FERGUS – On Sept. 7 and 8 communities across southern Ontario, including Fergus, will come together for the Walk for Parkinson’s.
“It’s just a way to bring all Parkinson’s people together and be in one place at one time,” Fergus walk organizer Robert Ecclestone told the Advertiser.
Ecclestone has been living with the condition for 17 years and was diagnosed when he was 40.
His symptoms started with a “small twitch” in his finger and after a trip to the doctors, he was diagnosed.
“In 2018 I had a deep brain surgery where they put two probes in your head,” he explained, noting the surgery helped his tremors but didn’t completely address his speech issues.
“I had to compromise one or the other; do you want to be able to walk or talk or do you want to tremor?” Ecclestone said.
His day-to-day life has become “exhausting” due to the disease, to the point where speaking is a task.
For the last decade, Ecclestone has pushed through the exhaustion each year to attend the annual Walk for Parkinson’s.
The Wellington-Dufferin walk originated in Orangeville, where a support group for Parkinson’s was held.
“The first four or five years I didn’t tell anybody (I had Parkinson’s) because you couldn’t tell, but then my sister drove me to the support group,” said Ecclestone.
“That was the best thing I did and I would highly recommend it.”
He explained the “wonderful” group helped members with medication knowledge and tips and tricks to get around symptoms.
Since his diagnosis, Ecclestone and his sister-in-law have started and co-chair a Parkinson’s support group in Fergus, where he lives. He ended up being the main reason the walk was brought to Centre Wellington.
“I said to them (Orangeville walk officials) ‘if you want me to continue running the walk, you move it to Fergus,’” said Ecclestone.
The first Fergus walk raised over $18,000 with all funds supporting the Parkinson Society of Southwestern Ontario.
The event prioritizes keeping funds in southern Ontario to improve the quality of life for people living with the disease. The money gets spread across four areas: support services, education, advocacy and research.
In past years Ecclestone led the walk and other times a piper has led, he noted.
Last year participants raised close to $40,000 at the Fergus walk and over $540,000 was raised across 14 locations.
“This year we have set our fundraising goal even higher,” Ecclestone said of this year’s goal of $40,000.
Currently the Wellington-Dufferin walk has raised just over $12,000.
The Wellington-Dufferin Walk for Parkinson’s event is on Sept. 7 at the Centre Wellington Community Sportsplex. Registration starts at 10am with the walk following at 11am.
Other locations, about the disease
Symptoms of Parkinson’s, which predominately affects a person’s brain, generally develop slowly and can differ from person to person, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
It causes one’s muscles to tremor, stiffen and shake, ultimately affecting movement and motor skills.
Other Walk for Parkinson’s locations include:
- Brantford, Brant-Norfolk and Haldimand County;
- Chatham-Kent;
- Goderich;
- Grand Bend;
- London and District;
- Owen Sound;
- Oxford County;
- Port Elgin, Kincardine and area;
- Sarnia-Lambton;
- South Grey Bruce and Hanover;
- Stratford and area;
- Waterloo Region; and
- Windsor-Essex.
For more information visit walkforpd.ca.
