On September 11th, SuperWalkers heeded the call to Walk Your Way in a collective fundraising effort in communities across the country. Despite being physically separated again this year, the ongoing commitment of individual walkers, teams and donors to make a difference in the lives of people living with Parkinson’s was reflected, not only in fundraising efforts, but in the spirited, creative and supportive ways that SuperWalk teams celebrated.
You can find examples of this – and share your own walk day experiences – in our Google Photo Album. It was an inspiring day of caring and camaraderie as teams marched towards their goals, which allow us to continue to provide support, advocacy and ongoing investments in research.
SuperWalk Kick-Off Event – Premiere
The day began with an online opening celebration hosted by Larry Gifford and Saphia Khambalia. Larry and Saphia brought a lively energy to the proceedings as they introduced the many special guests from the Parkinson community, from researchers to people living with Parkinsons and their caregivers, who shared their experiences, personal stories, and reasons for supporting the walk.
If you didn’t get a chance to see the SuperWalk Kick-Off Event live, you can find the video version here. Whether you participate in SuperWalk or not we hope you’ll find the message of strength, support and resilience to be compelling… No Matter What.
Supporter Stories – Making Meaning and Having Fun
Thousands of SuperWalkers from across the country shared their stories as they walked toward a world without Parkinson’s. Many used the digital Walk-in-a-Box toolkit to get creative in their themes and social media posts. Stories of SuperWalk celebrations, creativity, and perseverance have been flowing in.
From lemonade stands, to homemade SuperWalk cookies, or interpretive dance and many more people continue to make the walk their own in communities across the country. Whether you walked along waterfalls, grain elevators, or just in your backyard you showed one another that you are not alone in the journey with Parkinson’s.
Fundraising Totals – Another Great Year
The Parkinson community showed, despite another challenging year, their unwavering determination to come together for the cause, generating a grand fundraising total of $1.2 Million and counting. More than 1,200 walkers on 283 teams hosting their own walks throughout the country took part.
Together, this group celebrates more than $1.2 Million worth of impact on the lives of Canadians with Parkinson’s. Thanks to all the SuperWalkers who walked your way again this year and to those who were walking for the first time. Congratulations on making it another great success!