Media personalities and  Rugby League legends, Andrew “Joey’ Johns and Brad “Freddy” Fittler, along with Rugby Union’s Lachlan Turner are the newest additions to support the Shake It Up Australia Foundation’s mission to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

The sporting ambassadors will lead the Shake It Up team in the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival, on Sunday 16th September.

Andrew became a supporter of the Foundation through his friendship with founding directors Greg and Clyde Campbell, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 43. Andrew has offered his time and efforts to help the Foundation raise awareness where he can, and has convinced Brad to join him in the 3.5km Family Fun Run which starts at Bradfield Park, Milsons Point, travels over the main deck of the Harbour Bridge and finishes at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

“There’s not enough awareness about Parkinson’s and the effect it has on families in Australia.  It’s perceived as an ageing person’s problem but it doesn’t discriminate. It can strike anyone at any age.  Brad and I wanted to do our bit to raise the bar and help increase the awareness by participating in the festival, hopefully, there are some families that want to run with us”.

NSW Waratah Lachlan Turner, one of Australia’s fastest wingers, befriended the Campbell Family during an offseason break in Lennox Head, Northern NSW. Lachie is keen to get behind the cause and help incentivise parents and kids to run along with him in this spectacular Harbour side event.

Shake It Up has raised over $75,000 in last year’s Blackmores Running Festival with over 70 participants.  These funds enabled Shake It Up to invest in their first research grant at Neura in Sydney in October last year.

To pound the pavement for Parkinson’s with the ambassador of your choice, register to run in the 2012 Blackmores Sydney Running Festival by following the links below: Raise over $50 for the cause and receive a free t-shirt or singlet.