Pedaling for Parkinson’s is into its fifth year.Thom Morrissey
The gift: Raising $500,000 and climbing
The cause: Parkinson Society Central and Northern Ontario
When David Newall's father began showing signs of Parkinson's disease a few years ago, he wanted to do something to help fund research into the illness.
Mr. Newall teamed up with a friend, , whose neighbour had also been diagnosed with the disease. Together they created Pedaling for Parkinson's, a three-day cycling event in Parry Sound, Ont., which covers up to 130 kilometres each day.
The event is into its fifth year, and so far the group has raised more than $500,000 in total. The donations go to the Parkinson Society of Central and Northern Ontario – and Mr. Newall's father, John Newall, a retired surgeon, and his mother, Pam Newall, a scientist, are involved in deciding what research project the donations should fund.
The group is already planning next year's bike tour which attracts more than 200 participants.
"It's just amazing," said Mr. Newall who lives in Toronto and is a vice-president of sales at Q9 Networks, a Toronto-based company that specializes in data centre services (Dr. Istvan lives in Parry Sound). "It has a very grassroots and community-based feel."
pwaldie@globeandmail.com
Paul Waldie