This weeks Shake It Up Hero is David who throughout the year has held his ‘5 Peaks Challenge’ which has attracted 45 people participating in a run each month for five months.
1. What Drives Your Commitment to find a cure for Parkinson’s?
There are many important ‘causes’ and many brave people battling illness and other challenges around however I’ve been inspired by those who I’ve met who battle Parkinson’s, and those that love and support them and the fact that while challenged by an indiscriminate, debilitating condition that without exception each of them are brave, courageous and resilient, and are far from giving in to the challenge. My life is easy in comparison and being part of finding a cure for Parkinson’s so that those people can have their lives and futures back is a small thing in comparison.
2. Why Shake It Up Australia?
Alison Wood, and her sister Monica Hall are my inspirations. I wouldn’t have known about Parkinson’s in any real way had I not met Alison back in 2013 as she ran to find a cure but once I had I was compelled to follow her lead and do what I could.
3. Tell us what you are doing to Shake Things Up?
2015 has been a big year for me as I also ran to raise funds to find a cure for Parkinson’s. I’ve run a marathon in a belly dancing outfit, run 162km in 24 hours (my longest run ever), had potluck dinners, training events and a few other things to help me reach my $5000 goal, which I recently did.
4. Greatest Reward?
My greatest reward will come when a cure is found but for now, I’m honoured to have met and to know Alison and Monica, and to have had the support of my friends, family and colleagues throughout my fundraising.
5. Best advice for people looking to Shake It Up?
‘You always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take’, so have a go. Something is better than nothing. I’m not a ‘natural’ fundraiser and had to make an effort to put myself out there this year but have found that people are generous and supportive, and that has made all the difference. I would have liked to raise much more but the reality is that if I didn’t try that I wouldn’t have raised anything!
Are you interested in becoming a Shake It Up Hero through your own fundraising initiative? Find out how you can get involved and help us shake things up for a cure!
