Our hero this week is Alicia, who walked 200km over the month of September for Parkinson’s along with her furry friend, Charlie! She raised an amazing $1,620 for Shake It Up to further research towards a cure for Parkinson’s. We spoke to Alicia to hear about her challenge.

What drives your commitment to a cure for Parkinson’s?

My best friends beautiful mum; Christine, has Parkinson’s Disease. She was diagnosed in her 40’s and since then, the condition has slowly affected almost every area of her life. Despite this, she continues to be one of the kindest, loving people I know. Christine is constantly putting the needs of those around her above her own and goes out of her way to support those she loves; even on days when her symptoms take over. This is why I committed to fundraising for Parkinson’s. I truly believe that one day we can find a cure for Parkinson’s so that those suffering with the condition can live a comfortable, symptom-free life ????

What did you do to ‘shake things up’ and fundraise?

To ‘shake things up’, I committed to walking 200km throughout the beautiful Perth Hills and surrounds during the month of September. During these 30 days, I was able to cover an average of 50km a week which allowed me to reach my final goal by the end of the month.

What advice do you have to others looking to make a difference?

My advice would be to jump in and have a go! Although this fundraiser was challenging at times, I found it so incredibly rewarding knowing that we were able to contribute to funding research for such an important cause. The most important thing with fundraising is remembering that any contribution makes a massive difference. Whether you’re raising funds or raising awareness, you are part of the journey to one day finding a cure. A cure that would change the lives of so many wonderful people.

Could you challenge yourself for Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s Research needs funding and you can make a difference by fundraising for Shake It Up. Find out more about how you can get involved today.