Blackmores Sydney Running Festival took to the streets of Sydney last weekend, with many choosing to fundraise for causes close to their heart. Shake It Up had a small team of enthusiastic and generous runners take part, including Lloyd who completed his first marathon in honour of his father. We asked him what motivates him to Shake It Up for Parkinson’s.
My Dad lived with Parkinson’s for almost 30 years before he sadly passed away in 2014 at the age of 66. Despite living with the disease for so long, I never heard him complain about having Parkinson’s. I learnt a lot from Dad; but particularly his kind, selfless nature and devotion to family. The disease has a huge impact not only on the individuals who have Parkinson’s, but also on their families and loved ones. Sadly, a number of Dad’s grandchildren will now know him only in spirit. I’m inspired by the way both he and my Mum dealt with the challenge of his PD and it is that, along with the thought of other families having to go through this, is what drives me.
Why Shake It Up Australia?
I was inspired to fundraise for Shake it Up as a result of their devotion and commitment to finding a cure! I think it’s amazing that 100% of all donations go directly into research, meaning that every dollar our family and friends donate, truly gets us closer to finding a cure.
Tell us what you are doing/did to Shake Things Up?
I ran my first ever marathon at the Blackmore’s Sydney Running Festival. While sport and fitness have always been a part of my lifestyle, I’m by no means a natural runner – in fact, I’m much more at home in the water than I am on the land! By way of training, I ran almost every day from January through until race day but knew it was still going to be a struggle. It was, but nevertheless, I figured it was the least I could do to honour Dad, and hopefully help contribute to such an important cause.
Greatest Reward
The greatest reward will be when a cure is found. In the meantime, we’ll keep working, knowing that every day gets us a little bit closer to that goal.
Best advice for people looking to Shake It Up?
I’d simply advise people that every bit counts, so do what you feel you can do. Also, the Shake it Up team is fantastic. They’re very supportive and encouraging, so get out there!
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