Earlier this year, Shake It Up supporter Brodie took on the Noosa Ultra-Trail – one of the premier events on Australia’s trail running calendar. For Brodie, this was the latest in a series of fundraising challenges for Parkinson’s research, completed in honour of his father, who lived with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia. We spoke with Brodie all about his 50km adventure, his fundraising commitment and the power of community.

How was the Noosa 50km Ultra Trail? Tell us all about it! 

It was one of the greatest experiences. Extremely tough, both physically and mentally. It was a very wet week leading up to the event, so the conditions were very sloppy, but it made it a whole lot more fun and exciting. From the 900m of elevation, to the flooded forests and muddy hills. From start to finish it was so well set up and ran. Such a broad range of age in competitors also, it was great to see everyone getting amongst it.

How did you train/prepare for this event?

To be blatantly honest, I came into the event with next to no training, like all of my events. I’m all about just having a crack. What I lacked in training, I made up for with motivation, tenfold. I’m not out here to break records, I’m here to do what I said I was going to do. And that was finish a 50KM Ultra Trail Marathon. While most importantly raising awareness and funds to further research to something that will forever be close to my heart. When I set my mind to something, nothing will get in the way.

What were some of the highlights and hurdles on the day?

Highlights of the day would definitely have to be diving in the mud across the finish line while my good mates waited patiently for me with a XXXX. Most importantly having my family and a bunch of my closest friends there with me, cheering me on as I came to the home stretch. Hurdles would have to be the amount of incline throughout the race, the weather made the hills all that more interesting while they were caked in slippery mud. And running through ankle deep flooded areas of the forest, getting wet socks and shoes ten minutes into a 50KM run wasn’t ideal, but it was all a part of the fun.

Why did you choose to raise funds for Shake It Up?

I chose to raise funds for Shake It Up, after my late father battled through Parkinson’s disease for 10+ years. Caring part time for him and watching him go through everything that came with the disease, gave me a massive urge to want to help out and make a change where ever I could. Sadly, my father passed away on the lead up to my run. Carrying his legacy is something I will forever do, which is way beyond just being someone who had Parkinson’s disease. But whether we liked it or not, Parkinson’s disease became a massive part of his life and my family’s life. So, I’m not going anywhere until I get what I set out to achieve four years ago, a cure to this disease. I’m only just getting started.

What is your advice for others hoping to make a difference for Parkinson’s research?

I think you’ll be surprised what you can achieve when you put your mind to something. The mind gives up way before the body does. One person can’t pick up a car and move it, but ten people can. If we all just get stuck in together, I think we can achieve great things in years to come. There is a lot of power behind the domino effect. The more we talk about it, the more awareness we raise. The more funds we raise, the more ground breaking research can be completed.