鈥淎mazed鈥� was the word Gail Anderson-Macadam used to describe how she and her family felt at the end of Aldor Acres鈥� very first Parkinson鈥檚 SuperWalk on Saturday, Sept. 7.
More than 130 walkers took part in the inaugural event, plus 40 volunteers and a steady stream of donations, given by people hoping to find a cure for the disease. Anderson-Macadam said they have raised $15,000 so far, with money still trickling in.
鈥淲e had four township councillors come out through the course of the day鈥he weather was perfect鈥nd there was a great barbecue lunch and music by Alyssa Nielson. Overall, we just seemed to have our ducks lined up in a row,鈥� Anderson-Macadam explained.
鈥淭he biggest surprise was that we had at least 15 walkers who had been affected or were fighting Parkinson鈥檚, so they either walked or rolled the path, many coming with a support network of 10 or 15 family members.鈥�
Dorothy Anderson, owner and operator of Aldor Acres, was diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 three years ago. Since then, her family has looked for different ways to raise awareness in the community and lend their support to other鈥檚 struggling with the disease.
The Anderson鈥檚 found their chance when the Parkinson鈥檚 SuperWalk looked as though it would happen after it鈥檚 regular location became unavailable.
Several different routes around Aldor Acres gave participants a choice while the location provided guests with the chance to meet some furry farm animals after the countryside walk; 25 different SuperWalk鈥檚 happened on the same day all across B.C.
鈥淎bsolutely this walk will continue,鈥� Anderson-Macadam said. 鈥淭his was the first annual.鈥�
The 91原创/Surrey Parkinson鈥檚 Society of B.C. will put the funds towards research, physio and speech therapy, and exercise seminars.
Dorothy and husband Albert simultaneously celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary on the Saturday, fittingly doing what they have done together for the past 30 years 鈥� welcome tourists and friends onto their farm.
The regular fall season officially starts on Sept. 21.
Read More: A SuperWalk in the Countryside
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