As social media continues to expand we have started a Facebook page to share our club activities and other Parkinson's related stories and events. If you are a user of facebook please follow the JUST GIVER 4PD Facebook page.
Just Giver Team member Marc Bowles spearheaded a shoe collection to help out Runners for Africa. Another amazing grass roots movement to help those less fortunate. Just Giver has helped gather nearly 100 pairs of shoes to add!
JUST GIVER 4PD Supports Global Parkinson's Pledge
A worldwide appeal for one million people to sign the Global Parkinson's Pledge was launched at the second World Parkinson Congress in Glasgow, Scotland on September 28, 2010, to help build a global Parkinson's movement, to make Parkinson's a priority health, social and economic issue around the world, and to advance the cure.
By signing the pledge, you will be joining a global Parkinson's movement for change. The pledge will be the lasting legacy of the World Parkinson Congress 2010 in Glasgow. It will be used by the global Parkinson's community to highlight the urgency of better care for people with Parkinson's and will be presented to the World Health Organisation and other leading government bodies to help showcase the urgent need to invest in better care options for people living with chronic degenerative disease such as Parkinson's.
The goal is to get one million people to sign this pledge and join the global movement by the next World Parkinson Congress in October 2013 in Montreal, Canada.
TO SIGN THE PLEDGE PLEASE CLICK HERE - once the page is loaded please click on the top left corner under 'sign the global parkinson's pledge'. you can also track the progress of this pledge
Why do bad things happen to good people? I wish I knew. Why is it that the people with challenges that dwarf our own offer the most profound life lessons? I wish I knew.
When we met for the day's ride, his sporadic tremors and lack of control over his extremities made even getting his sunglasses on challenging--he unintentionally threw them across the sidewalk. This was a brief glimpse into the day-to-day life of my friend James. To see him walking down the street you'd take a second glance, feel sorry for him, and think to yourself, "Gosh, it would suck to have Parkinson's disease." To see him cycling, you'd not look twice because he's just another roadie--a strong one, too. Almost 40, James has a long and formidable journey ahead, but he doesn't want your pity. He just wants to ride.
On an open stretch of road James wanted to hammer it; I was game. Our average speed was creeping up to 40 kilometers per hour and we were holding steady. My heart was starting to beat faster and my mind was focused on the push. I forgot that at my half-wheel was a man who has difficulty walking. With his cycling shoes clipped in to his pedals and his hands comfortably resting on the hoods, he was as composed and fluid as the best riders I know. He'll probably never forget he has Parkinson's disease, but there's no disputing he can escape it while riding his bike.
James made me realize that my love of cycling is shallow. There is no end; to pedal my bike is a means to not much more than enjoyment, fitness, and time spent with good people. To James, cycling is all those things and so much more. It's therapy, relief and a critical part of his treatment. These combine to underwrite a profound respect for the sport. I have a passion for cycling, but what cycling does for me is insignificant compared to what it does for James. We can't go through life feeling sorry for people who don't feel sorry for themselves. I don't get the impression James feels short-changed with his one shot here on earth; in part that is why he's an inspiration. He's aware of his boundaries, but within those boundaries he plays hard.
I am a roadie because I wear tights and ride a lot. James is a roadie because he wears tights and rides a lot. The difference between us is he'll always have more heart in the game, which makes him more of a roadie than I'll ever be.
By Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson, Vancouver Courier - Jeffrey@theroadiescholar.com
Though it is now a year and a half old, this article, courtesy of CBC, is a detailed but still introductory look at Parkinson's Disease. If you would like to give someone unfamiliar with Parkinson's an introduction to symptoms, causes, and treatment, this would be great to pass along.
So after my last run at the grade 6 or 7 Terry Fox run, I figured what better way to spend the last 2 weeks then crunch training for the annual UBC Duathlon (5km run, 20km bike, 5km run). Volker, a JUST GIVER team member and an accomplished Ironman athlete asked Squirrel and me (Kelly) to join in the fun as he trains for this years' Penticton Ironman. Being a fast cyclist or a fast runner is one thing, but combining the two and then throwing in swimming is a whole other world. So with four training runs in the past two weeks, today was the day! Squirrel got hit with a cold so Volker and I went for it. Volker crushed it and finished 2nd in his age group, and a very impressive 4th overall with an incredible time of 1 hour 16min. Having never ran more then 5k in the last 2 weeks of training, the first 5k run and the 20k bike went well, but the last 5k was no man's land for me along with battling what felt like a 4 inch blister! 1 hour 37min later I made the podium finishing 3rd in my age group and 36th overall. Overall a great day and congrats to Volker for the 4th place overall. And once again huge respect to triathletes - I think i'll stick to the bike until next year's Duathlon!
It's not a cycling movie, but we have a feeling that a lot of you will be interested in the breathtaking cinematography. Keep an eye open for some familiar B.C. slopes!
Ride with Larry is a feature length documentary that puts a human face on the day-to-day fight against Parkinson’s through the story of Larry Smith, a retired police captain, now beloved small-town baker. After twenty years with the Parkinson’s, Larry plans to bike across his state of South Dakota in the Spring of 2011 with the support of his family and community to show the power of keeping your body active and mind positive, proving that the best cure is living life to its fullest.
The Film will follow Larry as he pushes his limits, expanding the boundary of possibilities for those with Parkinson’s. Weaved amongst this journey will be an intimate portrait of Parkinson’s, illuminating the day-to-day fight of those diagnosed, their families, and caretakers. We will interview experts and find other compelling stories to make a film worthy of all those stigmatized or mired in the darkness of a syndrome without a cure. Larry and his wife Betty refuse to be defined by this diagnosis, proving that sometimes the best cure is living life to its fullest.
Larry's Ride
This summer, Larry will ride approximately 280 miles from Aberdeen South Dakota home to Vermillion, South Dakota. The route has been chosen specifically so that Larry can speak to a different Parkinson’s Association of South Dakota support group at each day’s stop. During each visit, Larry will share the joys and benefits of cycling for Parkinson’s sufferers with extra trikes available for trying out.
On the last day of the route, Larry’s friends and supporters will be joining him for the final route home and a finish-line celebration. Catrike, the company that manufactures Larry’s bike, is donating a trike as a gift to a Parkinson’s patient to be chosen at random during the event.
For more information on Larry's Ride and The Ride With Larry movie please visit their website
Thanks to all those who made it out for a great weekend of riding. Very rare to get in back to back 75 - 90km rides in February. Hopefully its the start of an early spring!
On May 13, 14, and 15th, of this year, the Grand Forks Cycling Club will be hosting their annual "Robb's Ride" - a three day trek that covers 348 kilometers and 3,890 meters of climbing. Join as either a hammerhead, a ryder, or a tourista for a friendly club ride at your own pace. The route includes the always challenging Anarchist Mountain, as well as a 120km ride around Grand Forks and a trip through the US to Osoyoos.
Registration is $120/ rider, plus accomodation in Osoyoos. To find out more about the ride, click here
Sounds like a great event for anyone looking to get some good spring training miles in!
