Cross-country trip on foot
Walker hopes to raise funds and awareness of Parkinson’s disease
Bill Bucklew can’t outrun Parkinson’s disease, but he can outwalk it. He was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s in 2012 and six years later he cannot run well anymore, so instead he decided to take a walk — across the United States.
Bucklew is 48-years-old and the vice president of a kitchenware product development company. He began his journey on Nov. 24 of last year for his first event to support UnCorked Adventures NFP, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Bucklew started in 2017.
The mission of the organization, according to its website, is to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease and inspire those affected while educating those who aren’t.
UnCorked Adventures NFP has partnered with Team Fox of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.
At the start of his trek, Bucklew endeav-
ored to walk two marathons a day, every day, across the United States to raise funds. He started by leaving from Tybee Island, Ga., and will conclude his two-monthlong, cross-country trek on Jan. 31 at Imperial Beach Pier in San Diego.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine website, Parkinson’s disease is a type of movement disorder that occurs when nerve cells in the brain don’t produce enough of a brain chemical called dopamine.
Symptoms, which many times begin on one side of the body, begin gradually and include trembling of hands, arms, legs, jaw and face, stiffness of arms, legs and trunk, slowness of movement and poor balance and coordination.
Those with Parkinson’s disease may have difficulty talking, walking, or doing simple tasks as symptoms get worse. The U.S. National Library of Medicine’s website states that there is no lab test for Parkinson’s disease, which makes it difficult to diagnose.
Instead, a medical history and a neurological examination are used to diagnose it.
The National Institutes of Health statistics show — though estimates vary — about 50,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the U.S. each year and about half a million people have the disease.
“Parkinson’s disease — there is no cure,” Bucklew said. “There is really no way to slow the progression except for exercise. One of the messages I try to get out is you don’t have to walk across America, but if I can inspire people to get up and walk around the block or around their house, it’s really helped me to slow the progression of my disease.”
So far, Bucklew has raised $92,755 of his $100,000 goal. Those who are interested in supporting his cause can simply donate on his organization’s website or they may “sponsor a mile” and be featured in his blog.
On Thursday, Bucklew made his way through Yuma. While here, he decided to visit Telegraph Pass.
“I walked through this morning,” he said. “The pass was absolutely beautiful. The weather is amazing here and the people have been equally great.”
While here, Bucklew also met up with Beverly Ribaudo, who currently runs the Parkinson’s Support Group of Yuma. She said she walked with him for about a mile as she met him just outside of Wellton and they shared their diagnosis stories.
Like Bucklew, Ribaudo spent years with the disease before receiving a proper diagnosis. She has now been the head of the local Parkinson’s support group for about five years.
Ribaudo explained that she came across Bucklew’s story on the internet.
“I am very active in the Parkinson’s world social media wise,” she said. “I found him on Facebook and have been following his progress since he was back in Texas. I am always looking for people that will inspire members of my group to get out and exercise. I think his story will be a good one for them.”
Buckley noted that the connections he has made during his trek have become some of the most meaningful gains he has had throughout his journey.
“One of the goals that I had with this mission is to connect with people, because the way we are going to solve the problem is working together,” he said. “Those connections are really the key.”
Buckley trained himself physically for about six months before embarking on his walk. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 43, though his symptoms, which existed long before, went improperly diagnosed for seven years.
Following his diagnosis, Bucklew became determined to find a cure for the disease and wished to inspire those affected by it as well as educate those who know little about the disease.
Bucklew added he was also motivated by concerns he had for his children. “My father actually had Parkinson’s,” Bucklew said. “He was diagnosed after me in 2015. I actually think my grandfather had it but he was one of those old salts that would never go to the doctor. It seems to run in my family and I have a son and daughter.”
Should Bucklew complete his feat, which he is nearing the end of, he will have walked a total distance of 2,503 miles and he will have a total elevation gain of 81,180 feet.
Throughout his walk, Bucklew said he has encountered weather conditions ranging from five inches of snow in Mississippi to 50 mph winds in a storm in New Mexico. He added that sponsorships through Choice Hotels and a friend with an RV offer him shelter during his rest times.
While in San Diego, Bucklew noted he hopes as many people as possible will join him for the very last mile of his journey.
To follow Bucklew’s journey or to donate to his cause, visit www.uncorkedadventures.org.
He can also be found on Facebook, “UnCorked Adventures NFP.”
The Parkinson’s Support Group of Yuma meets at 9 a.m. on the first Monday of each month at Daybreakers Cafe, 10800 N. Frontage Road.