Our fundraising hero this week is Trish, who set herself the challenge to walk 90km, the same distance as Canberra to Goulburn, during Parkinson’s Awareness Month this April as part of Pause 4 Parkinson’s. Trish completed the challenge with her Dad in mind, who has Parkinson’s. We asked Trish to share some of her story and her advice for others looking to make a difference.

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

My drive to find a cure is simply because of my Dad. Whilst I knew of Parkinson’s I didn’t understand what sufferers go through, it’s a daily battle. And there is nowhere near enough government funding towards finding a cure. If I can help educate people and potentially get donations from friends and family then at least it’s something. I had no idea how prevalent Parkinson’s was. It being the second most common neurological disease in Australia after Dementia is unreal. The information that I have found from Shake it Up is mind blowing.

What did you do to fundraise and make a difference?

My fundraising was simply done through sharing my page on Facebook. I posted my walks every day to keep everyone informed about the challenge and keep myself motivated. I shared information from the Shake It Up Facebook page to educate friends and family on Parkinson’s. And whilst at times like this not everyone can help out financially I was overwhelmed with the support I received. I also found it rewarding when anyone commented on the information I shared as it helped them to understand too.

I would have loved to have done a cake bake sale to help raise more funds but this pandemic put a stop to that occurring.

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

I would say that if they have a social media platform then share, share and share some more. I know people don’t like to ask personally for donations but online it is very easy. Stay committed to the cause by giving yourself a reminder to post each day. Also if possible do a bake sale, a guess how many lollies are in the jar, something that is easy to do in a workplace. I unfortunately was working from home so didn’t have the ability to do this. I think it’s just all about doing something little each day.

You too can fundraise and make a difference towards cutting-edge Australian research to find better treatments for Parkinson’s. Find out more about how you can get involved today.