In May, our ice skaters, Owen and Sandra Turner, along with their daughters Mikaela and Kiera and Kiera’s partner Elijah challenged themselves to skate the same distance as a National Hockey League player skates in an entire season, in just 3 months – that’s 660km!

Together, the team have completed their challenge and raised $5,950 for Parkinson’s Research! Motivated by Owen’s recent diagnosis, Kiera said that “it’s so important to see a cure for Parkinson’s to ensure that other families do not have to experience what we are likely to face.”

We spoke to Owen and Kiera to get the wrap up on their challenge.

What was the best part of the challenge?

Owen: Skating as a family and the shared purpose of working to something so much bigger than ourselves.

Kiera: The best part was getting to all skate together regularly, work on our skills and tricks as well as skating the laps. Mikaela tried skating backwards again and dad practiced his other cool skating tricks and taught me one of them!

What was the most difficult part of the challenge?

Owen: Keeping motivated and fitting in the challenge around day to day life – (and dodging figure skaters!)

Kiera: Some weeks it was hard to attend our usual twice a week skating sessions with work commitments. And as dad said dodging the spinning figure skaters at the general session.

What would you like to say to your supporters and donors?

Owen: You are all so generous and supportive – much more than we thought possible. People we hardly know donating,  and people we do know donating amazing amounts. The level of interest in the PD community was very surprising and I hope it inspires others to challenge themselves.

Kiera: We cannot possibly thank them enough, to give so generously either just in support for us as a family, for the cause (or both of course). Many people donated as they knew someone with Parkinson’s and to those people, thank you and we’re in this together! Hopefully the money we have raised can help everyone now and in the future!

Challenge yourself for Parkinson’s and make a difference. 100% of all funds raised will go directly to Australian Parkinson’s research to speed up a cure.

Find out more today or contact our Fundraising and Events Manager, Isobel to get started.