My Parkinson Story is a weekly column featuring member of our community, sharing their stories with PD. We are interested in sharing a wide array of experiences, including yours! PD looks different in everyone, and affects everyone differently, including friends and family of those with PD. If you’d like to share your story on our blog, please email us.
On race day you can find me running around, eating a goetta slider, or with my team Snags Snails. I've often been asked what that name means: Snag is a nickname that my Dad received as a kid after receiving a snaggletooth in a sledding accident, and Snails just felt appropriate because we are NOT a running family. You'll find most of the Snags Snails on the short cut route. This year will be my family's 4th year participating. My dad was diagnosed in 2017 at the age 56 and went into retirement shortly after in 2018. I've always felt a bit helpless, other than being there for moral support and lending a hand when I can everything is really out of my control.
During my 2nd race at Winton Woods I arrived early and saw all of the volunteers buzzing around. At that time I had a "smack my head" moment and thought to myself "Why didn't I think to volunteer?". That was the answer for the question in the back of my head that was screaming, "I WISH I COULD HELP". I'm not in control when it comes to the disease but I can control my actions and I wanted to get involved.
After that 2nd race in 2018 I received an Email from Dave Ebner talking about the committee and his responsibilities. He asked if anyone had ideas or wanted to help out on the committee to reach out, so I reached out and the rest is history. I joined the Steady Strides 5K Committee and I've been able to support Dave with creating team and race goals/strategies, setting up the team leader library and extensively reviewing the documents, and helping launch the new "Spirit Stick" that was handed out for the first time in 2019. Being a part of the committee is an extension of the community and energy that radiates every year on race day. Everyone has been so welcoming and truly wants to make the race better each year.
Through volunteering I've gotten to meet a lot of people including Cori Hammoor. It's nice to know Cori because she is someone that is my age and gets what it feels like to have a parent with the diagnosis. For me that further establishes the feeling that I'm a part of the community now. I'm excited to learn more and help Parkinson's Support and Wellness wherever I can for as long as I can.