Peter Roberts, Ollie shipman and Greg Shaw are to take on the 66-mile circular route around the Isle of Wight in aid of Sport Parkinson’s in May.
So far, they have raised £1,323 of their £1,600 target.
Starting and finishing in Chale on 3rd May, the trio will cover the coastal paths around the Island in a target time of 20 hours. As opposed to running it in a competitive time, they will attempt to shuffle, trudge and crawl their way over the gruelling route.
The idea was the brainchild of Peter brought about by the dread of turning 40 in February. With a bit of persuasion, Peter’s brother-in-law Ollie was soon on board, followed by a recent call up of Greg (also turning 40 this year).
Sport Parkinson’s supports people to “keep healthy and strong until the cure comes along”. It has been clinically proven that exercise can slow down the progression of Parkinson’s and help battlers manage symptoms. They organise unique sporting events, provide grants, raise awareness of the condition and offer community support to improve the lives of people living with the disease.
With Peter’s involvement in Sport Parkinson’s through golf, he has seen first hand as to the impact it can have.
Peter says:
“Whilst the engagement in sport is of paramount importance to the individuals, it is the sense of community that is overwhelming. I have been involved in coaching the SP Golf Academy and joining the lunchtime forum, where sharing of ideas is always of major benefit to the participants.
Article continues below this advertisement “It is clear that Parkinson’s can be a very lonely place and Sport Parkinson’s is making great waves at alleviating this for so many.”
Oliver has seen the effects of Parkinson’s, saying:
“One of my best friends’ mother has long since suffered from Parkinson’s, and it is something I have unfortunately witnessed first-hand. When she was first diagnosed, I helped raise money through getting involved in charity events for The Cure Parkinson’s Trust. Speaking to Pete about the amazing work Sport Parkinson’s does made it an easy decision for me to sign up.”
Greg – a long suffering and self-professed golf addict – added:
“Pete explained to me the work the golf academy has been doing to look into the balance of medication during a round of golf and pairing that with a strategy to help the golfers keep their rounds going. I really look forward to attending some of the golf events going forward and seeing the work in action”.
