Danielle conquers Hobart Run the Bridge challenge in memory of her dad

When Danielle laced up her runners for Hobart’s annual Run the Bridge, she wasn’t just chasing a personal best—she was running for something far more meaningful. In her first-ever charity fundraiser, Danielle completed the 10km course in under an hour, all in honour of her late father, who passed away from Parkinson’s disease in August 2024. With the support of her family and friends behind her, Danielle turned her grief into action, raising vital funds for Parkinson’s research through Shake It Up in memory of her dad. Her story is one of courage, love, and legacy—and we’re honoured to share it.

Tell us all about your fundraising challenge

I completed the annual Hobart Run the Bridge on Sunday 2 March where nearly 5,000 people ran or walked across the Tasman bridge. I opted for the 10km run and finished with a new personal best of 59min 50 seconds.

This was the first time that I have run for a cause, and it made the whole experience much more fulfilling as I felt I had the support of my friends and family the whole way. It wasn’t an easy run either, there were many hills as Tassie is not that flat!

What inspires your commitment to fundraise for Parkinson’s research?

The heart behind this fundraiser for me is my Dad. Sadly, we lost my beautiful dad to Parkinson’s disease in August 2024. He suffered for almost ten years with the disease and watching him slowly fade away from us was heartbreaking. The everyday grief is hard to navigate and come to terms with. Now that he has passed, we miss him dearly. He was a beautiful soul and was absolutely loved by many, which has been reflected in our fundraising efforts. I say ‘we’ as my mum helped to share the link around and our whole family got on board.

Why did you choose to support Shake It Up?

I signed up to do the run and searched for a Tasmanian Parkinson’s charity to support. This is where I came across Shake It Up and I have been impressed by the support and enthusiasm from this lovely group of people. The regular emails and check-ins during the lead-up to the event were really appreciated. I also love that the website has a lot of really great, up-to-date information on Parkinson’s disease. A community mindset is what we need to help find a cure.

What is your advice for others wanting to make a difference in memory of a loved one?

Find your why – for me, it is the legacy that my Dad leaves behind. I ran as fast as I could because he couldn’t.

Being my first fundraiser; I was happily surprised that people wanted to donate. Any amount makes a difference and there’s no shame in asking. We’re all in this world together so why not make a difference for the better and be a part of something good.

Want to take on your own fun run to challenge yourself for Parkinson’s Awareness Month and help raise money for life-changing Australian research? Find an event near you today or make a direction donation.