Well that was fun! The 14th Annual Steady Strides, presented by Supernus Pharmaceuticals, was another great success. Our sponsors, contributors, volunteers and most notably, our Parkinson community, all came together to achieve every goal we set. The final numbers are not yet complete but we know we will meet or exceed our financial goal of $110,000. This means you can assured that we will continue our mission of Learning, Moving and Sharing through 2023.
Steady Strides is so much more than a fundraiser. Here are some of the comments from Walk/Race participants, sponsors, exhibitors and volunteers. They tell the story.
“It’s like a festival with a walk and run….”
“The race itself, from start to finish, looked like a well-oiled machine. As I watched the race and cheered for all the runners, I really realized that those of us with Parkinson’s our caregivers, our families, and our friends are truly a part of a unique community.”
“So organized!”
“I just love the New Brew band!”
“Love the long sleeved t-shirts!”
“These medals are great!”
“It all went off without a hitch. ”
“The personal connection that one feels with friends and others dealing with Parkinson’s is just special. As we continue to recover from the pandemic years we can look forward to future years when the number of us who experience the camaraderie and support of the Steady Strides event will return to pre-pandemic levels and beyond.”
“Best race ever!”
“Great food!”
“I had the opportunity to walk the short course, and I know what the rest of the course looks like. It was sensational, a real runner’s course.”
“So many great baskets to bid on.”
“I won!”
Well, we all were winners last Saturday. Nearly all the baskets that were won and Silent Auction items have been claimed. If you did not see your race time and how you fared against the competition you can check the results here.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of Parkinson Support & Wellness I want to thank our sponsors and exhibitors for their financial support. Please visit our Steady Strides page to see all of them listed, and if you have the opportunity, please support them in return.
We have dozens of volunteers that help us pull off this challenge each year. They help us to set up and tear down the site. They help to serve the food, set up and sell the raffle, Silent Auction and Split the Pot. They passed out water on the course, served food, and helped to wrangle the kids for the “Little Striders” runs. And so much more.
I want to give a special thanks to our Race Committee. They put in many hours in planning throughout the year and dive in actively in the last weeks before and during the Race weekend. I want you to know who these heroes are:
John Allen
Donna Breitenstein
Marge Burks
David Ebner
Rick Iles
Sarah Pendleton
Stuart Solomon
Kate Stark
Bob Wetterrer
We can never have too many members of the Committee, and we invite you to consider joining us on the Race Committee as we begin the planning for Steady Strides 2023.
I tip my cap to my comrades that are the paid staff. We are part time employees, as we normally are scheduled to work twenty hours per week. For weeks, as we approach and work through Steady Strides race weekend those hours turn out to be much more than forty per week. I cannot fathom how we could pull off this wonderful day without Nancy Wetterer and Julia Burks. They are rock stars!
Thanks to everyone who participated and who support Parkinson Support & Wellness. Be proud of your role and please join me as we look forward to the 15th Annual Parkinson’s Steady Strides in 2023.