This month, thousands of runners will hit the pavement to take part in the TCS Sydney Marathon for 2024. With 50 fundraisers running in support of Shake It Up, this year is our biggest group of participants ever, and together they’ve already raised over $18,000!
We spoke with two participants, Collin and Jimi, to find out about their experience training for the event, their commitment to fundraising for Parkinson’s research and more. Collin is returning to take on the Sydney Marathon for the second year, while this is the first marathon Jimi has completed after previous fundraising and running challenges for Shake It Up with his team at Amaysim! This year Jimi has formed a team, the ‘Fox Trotters’, with friends Simon, Andrew and Sean.
How is your training for the race going?
Collin: Training is going reasonably well. I’m super busy with work as a neuroscience-focused academic at Sydney Uni, so that cuts into training time, but I’ve been really consistent with my long runs over the weekends. Just last weekend, I got in a bit over 40k connecting from one end of the new metro to the other (Tallawong to Sydenham), so I’ll be ready to go on race day.
Jimi: Training is going well, I am completing a 16 week training program. It has been challenging but loving every minute of it.
What drives your commitment to fundraise for Parkinson’s?
Collin: I completed my PhD studying deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease, so I’ve had a strong personal connection to Parkinson’s research for some time. My research is now split across disorders impacting both basal ganglia (Parkinson’s disease, Tourette syndrome) and cerebellum (ataxias, Christianson syndrome), but Parkinson’s is the area I’ve done the most work in historically. Seeing the incredible quality of work on Parkinson’s disease from others here in Australia, I’m very happy to have the opportunity to help fundraise for Shake it Up.
Jimi: I’m driven by the hope to find a cure and better treatment programs for the patients that are living with the disease
Why did you choose to raise funds for Shake It Up?
Collin: I have a long personal history of work on Parkinson’s disease, and through the nature of my work at Sydney Uni, I have seen colleagues present on work related to projects funded by Shake it Up. As a neuroscientist, I have a lot of confidence in the kinds of work that Shake it Up is funding, so it was an easy decision to choose this as the charity recipient for my 2024 Sydney Marathon.
Jimi: Shake It Up is doing amazing work and every opportunity I get I will try to promote the cause and spread the word about the Foundation.
What is your advice for others hoping to make a difference for Parkinson’s?
Collin: There are a lot of ways to make a difference for Parkinson’s disease. Fundraising for charities investing in Parkinson’s research is very helpful, but engaging with the community, amplifying voices of Parkinson’s researchers and (especially) patients is also a great thing to do.
Jimi: There are many ways to promote the cause, you have to find your purpose and tie it with something you love doing – and in my case that is running – then make it happen. Start small and grow from there.
Good luck to all our Sydney Marathon fundraisers! If you want to find an athletic event to participate in, you can see what’s coming up in your State here.
