Sarah, Mallory, Rob, Susan, Sumaya and I were all part of the Parkinson’s Spinning Wheels Tour ride from London to Stratford. Mallory, Susan, and Sumaya drove support vehicles and Rob, Sarah, and I, and about ten other riders, rode bikes.
Here’s Susan in Stratford Today talking about the ride and her role in it.
“Susan Fullerton is a former cyclist who helped with the logistics of the event. She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s nine years ago, and she says it’s really impacted her life.
“I’m no longer able to work. I moved out of Toronto to Guelph, to be close to my family, as I don’t really drive very much,” she shared. “I have quite bad tremors, and something called dystonia, where I freeze; my toes curl, and I have trouble walking, but I’m fairly well managed on medication.”
She was a part of a clinical trial where they opened her brain and put drugs in the brain to help stop the progression of Parkinson’s, and she thinks it really helped.
“I used to not be able to smell very much at all. And I can smell some things now,” Fullerton said. “I came home from the surgery, and I could smell my cat litter, something I hadn’t been able to do for a number of years, so one of my friends sent me flowers because she said I should smell something better than cat litter.”
When it comes to Parkinson’s, there are a lot of misconceptions.
“I think most people think of old men with tremors, and they don’t think it’s happening to, people in their mid-30s, so it’s not just old people; it’s young, middle-aged, and old people,” Fullerton said. “People think it’s only tremors, and there’s so much more, and the other thing is, it’s not just physical symptoms. There’s the anxiety, depression, and the other thing is that stress is one of the biggest contributors to the progression of your disease.”
See more here: https://www.stratfordtoday.ca/local-news/spinning-wheels-tour-cyclists-arrive-in-stratford-to-raise-parkinsons-awareness-12809123#
The ride is really about raising awareness of Parkinson’s and celebrating community, but it’s also a fundraiser. You can donate here if you like.
“More than 120,000 people live with Parkinson’s in Canada, a number expected to grow significantly in the coming years. At Parkinson Canada, people with Parkinson’s are at the centre of everything we do. Parkinson Canada funds critical research, provides information and support, increases awareness and advocates for improved healthcare outcomes for people with Parkinson’s across Canada. With the support of our sponsors, partners and the Parkinson’s community, we continue to invest in research dedicated to finding a cure and improving the quality of life for all people affected by Parkinson’s.”
The route was about 65 km and the day was gorgeous. There was sunshine and temperatures starting out at about 10 degrees and ending at about 15. There were also hills, but rolling hills mostly, so fine. And wind. The wind was less fine.
We regrouped for the final ride into Stratford and our highlight of the day was riding into the park, complete with trumpets and a fanfare. Thanks Mary, Larry, and Phil for the welcome!
Video of our arrival at the park, with a very Stratford welcome and a trumpet fanfare!
Discover more from FIT IS A FEMINIST ISSUE
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
