REGIONAL Victoria’s longest-running community walk in support of people living with Parkinson’s Disease is back this week to raise awareness of the debilitating and “often forgotten” disease.
Mildura’s Slow Walk in the Park is on Sunday from 9.45am and walkers are asked to wear something red for the stroll from Henderson Park to Jaycee Park.
It will be followed by a Fight Parkinson’s Community Seminar on Monday from 7pm-8.30pm, which will feature guest speakers Prof. David Finkelstein, head of the Parkinson’s Disease Laboratory at the Florey Institute and Prof. Jenny McGinley, Professor of Physiotherapy at Melbourne University.
Event Organiser Cheryl Barnes said she hoped to see a strong turnout at this year’s event.
“The aim is to make people in the community aware of what Parkinson is and what the treatments are as well as raising money to find a cure,” she said.
“We had about 150 people attend last year and I’d be happy if we got those numbers or even more.”
Ms Barnes said it was important to raise awareness for a disease which is often forgotten.
“People do not hear very much about Parkinson’s they hear more about MS and other horrible diseases mentioned but very little about Parkinson’s,” she said.
“Most people think it is an old persons disease but unfortunately it isn’t, we have a couple of people in Mildura suffering and they are only in their thirties.”
It’s estimated that 219,00 Australians and 57,000 Victorians live with Parkinson’s disease today.
There will be a $5 entry fee for the walk.
The seminar is free. Register at https://www.fightparkinsons.org.au/support-for-you/events/community-seminar-mildura/