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Parkinson SuperWalk heads to Oakville Place Sept. 10 by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff 3 | Thursday, September 8, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Parkinson's can manifest in different ways for each person living with the condition, says longtime Oakville resident Earla Fitzjohn. The 71-year-old knows that first-hand having lived with the neurodegenerative disease for the last 12 years and having watched her father go through his own journey battling the condition that affects more than 100,000 Canadians. Every hour of each day, another Canadian will be diagnosed, according to Parkinson Canada. It can touch almost every aspect of a person's life, including movement, mood, speech, ability to smell, eating and drinking, sleep and cognitive abilities. It also worsens over time, and can be debilitating. Fitzjohn noted although her father had more physical symptoms that included shuffling his feet as he walked, she, personally, has been losing more of her fine motor skills. "People say you don't look like you have Parkinson's," she told the Oakville Beaver , "but I have a lot of other symptoms that other people don't have." Fitzjohn noted Parkinson's isn't a death sentence, but it's something you'll have to live with long term. "Luckily, I've got support from my kids and my husband, but not everyone has that," she said. Glen Abbey resident Nicole Medcalf (at right, with husband Steve Medcalf) is taking over the reigns from Earla Fitzjohn (at left) as Parkinson SuperWalk co-ordinator for Oakville. | Metroland file photo (left), submitted photo (right) Motivated to help others living with the condition, Fitzjohn decided to get involved with Parkinson Superwalk years ago after taking part in a support group in Mississauga for people living with the disease. The annual event, which was created in 1981, takes place in cities across Canada and has raised more than $34 million to fund research for a cure, support services, education and advocacy since its inception. Fitzjohn noticed although there were Superwalk events in neighbouring cities, such as Burlington and Mississauga, there wasn't one in the place she lived. With her family's support, she changed that in 2014. Thanks to her co-ordinated effort with volunteers in the community, Parkinson Superwalk kicked off in the Oakville community raising $15,000 and another $22,000 last year. This year, Fitzjohn is stepping back from her role as the co-ordinator, however, passing the baton onto Glen Abbey resident Nicole Medcalf and her family. The Parkinson Superwalk, now in its third year in Oakville, takes place at RioCan Oakville Place, 240 Leighland Ave., Saturday (Sept. 10), beginning at 10 a.m. Participants will be walking 2.5 kilometres around the mall to help raise awareness and funds for education, support, vital research, and advocacy, on behalf of Canadian's with Parkinson's disease and their families, friends and caregivers. Fitzjohn noted with the walk becoming increasingly challenging for her health, Medcalf's willingness to take on the responsibility has been greatly appreciated. "Blood, sweat and tears have gone into it and Nicole is absolutely the right person to take over," she said, adding Medcalf has the passion, energy and networking skills to continue building the event, year after year. Medcalf told the Beaver she and her husband Steve Medcalf are thrilled to help carry the event forward and apply their event-planning and marketing backgrounds to help a great cause. "Personally, my father-in-law has Parkinson's and so it was a cause that we wanted to find a way to get involved (in) and make a difference and put our skills towards raising funds to help those living with Parkinson's. It seemed like an easy, natural fit," she said. Medcalf added it's a great family-friendly event that can involve the whole family. Her two young sons Cade and Carson have been taking part in the event, as well as her father-in-law and mother-in-law. This year's fundraising goal is $30,000. Medcalf is hoping with the community's support, they'll be able to reach and surpass that target. Residents can register online ahead or on the day of the event at 9 a.m. For more about the walk, visit www.ParkinsonSuperWalk.ca.