Three generations of a local family strapped on their running shoes to raise money for Parkinson’s disease research, a cause that is close to home.
The Hardy family raised $2,955 at Canada’s three-kilometre Parkinson SuperWalk, the largest national fundraising event for Parkinson Society Canada (PSC), which took place in Calgary’s North Glenmore Park on Sept. 11.
Cam Hardy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a year ago and 10 members of the family took part in the fundraiser in his honour. The team called “Fore! Dad” consisted of mom/wife Louise, son Blair and his wife Kimberley, baby Kaiya, daughter Shannon, her husband James, their son Loxley and daughter Daisy, son Marcus and his girlfriend Heather.
“We wanted to take part because our dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s last year and we wanted to do all we could to get closer to the cure,” said Blair, who has lived in Airdrie for three years.
“When he was diagnosed, it was shocking and very unexpected. He was always the health nut of the family, running marathons and out golfing all the time. He was always moving.”
Blair is a financial services manager at BMO in Airdrie and him and his coworkers raised almost $800 for the cause at a bake sale at the end of August.
“I want to thank everyone in Airdrie who donated,” he said.
“Thanks to the BMO members who stepped up to the plate.”
“I think it’s really amazing that his colleagues and the people of Airdrie have stepped up like this for a disease that affects about 100,000 Canadians every year but doesn’t get a lot of recognition,” said Blair’s sister Shannon Woodward, who took part in the walk.
“It meant a lot to me and to my family to know that our community has done its part to help find a cure and I want to thank everyone for all of their support.”
More than 13,000 walkers and 2,000 volunteers from coast-to-coast organize and take part in Parkinson SuperWalk every year. Parkinson SuperWalk 2009 was an outstanding success setting a new record – $2.7 million ($2.2 million in 2008). This year’s total is not yet known.
Blair said the walk was a lot of fun, with everyone focusing on the cure.
“Everyone was really upbeat and there for the right reasons,” he said.
