Stepping and striding for a good cause
On Sept. 10-11 at nine locations across Alberta, the 10th annual Step N’ Stride for the Parkinson Association of Alberta (PAA) is taking place. In Medicine Hat, the event will be happening on Sunday, September 11 starting at 1 p.m. at Kin Coulee Park.
All the events across Alberta will be built the same way. There will be some snacks before the walk. Options are a 1K, 3K or 5K walk, whichever is best for you or your team. Afterwards, there will be some entertainment along with some family-friendly games and prizes. Save on Foods will be coming out to serve up a barbecue, treats and beverages for everyone following the walk.
“If you don’t want to walk, still come on down, you can donate to one of the walkers or a team, or go to the website and make one. If you want to come to the event and not walk, you are more than welcome. Enjoy the activities, the food and friendship, and socialization,” said Lance Corbett, communications and development manager for PAA.
Registration is open now and can be done online at https://parkinsonassociation.akaraisin.com/ui/stepnstride, click on locations, then Medicine Hat and in the top right hand corner you can register. Another option is to show up on the day and register in person.
This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for PAA, bringing in 20 per cent of their annual income, which they use to offer services, programs, advocacy efforts and research contributions. They had 1,500 people participate across the province last year and are hoping for 2,500 this year.
This is the first time in three years there will be a Step N’ Stride in Medicine Hat, which has been the smallest community for Parkinson’s in Alberta and PAA hopes to change that this year.
Over 15,000 Albertans are affected by Parkinson Disease or Parkinson’s Plus (PD+) Syndromes, for which there is no cure.
In Medicine Hat and surrounding area there are about 400 individuals affected, plus the few thousand care partners who support them. For more information, visit https://parkinsonassociation.ca
Corbett added the event is “really a day for everyone to come out and have fun, the Parkinson’s community along with everyone else. It is not only a walk for charity but is being planned as an afternoon social.”