Maxine Thistle, St. John’s wins the Early Bird SuperWalk prize

Maxine Thistle, St. John’s wins the Early Bird SuperWalk prize

SuperWalk 2009 announces its first Early Bird Winner!

Congratulations to Maxine Thistle of St. John’s Newfoundland, SuperWalk’s first Early Bird winner. Maxine receives a $500 gift certificate to Chapters/Indigo and is eager to start spending.

After her best friend was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 16 years ago, Maxine began to volunteer for Parkinson Society Newfoundland & Labrador and has been heavily involved ever since. As an organizing member of the first SuperWalk in St. John’s, a former chair of their Board for five years and a current member of the Education and Support Committee, Maxine knows the importance of the monies raised by SuperWalk. She is especially concerned about the ongoing need for support, not just for those diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but for their family and friends as well. That is why she walks.

“We need to concentrate on providing support because everyone affected by Parkinson’s needs it,” says Maxine. “Even if we found a cure tomorrow it is so important that we make sure people are equipped to cope with the disease in their daily lives.”

Maxine remains hopeful that her efforts to effect change, along with those of so many other volunteers, are truly making a difference.

“There are a lot of challenges that arise when you have Parkinson’s. It’s not a pretty disease,” says Maxine. “The biggest challenge is to stay positive. There is hope at the end of the tunnel. The question is, just when are we going to find a cure?”

Armed with this hope, there is no doubt in Maxine’s mind that walkers in over 80 communities across Canada will reach this year’s SuperWalk fundraising goal of $2.4 million.