Making a difference: Jeanette Branch, an ambassador for ‘A Walk in the Park’ in Melbourne, has decided, along with the Echuca Moama District Parkinson’s Support Group, to host their own event at Echuca Aquatic Reserve.
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The Echuca Moama District Parkinson’s Support Group will join supporters and the Fight Parkinson’s organisation to host ‘A Walk in the Park’ at Echuca Aquatic Reserve to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s disease.
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The event will be at 10.30 am on Thursday, April 11, which is World Parkinson’s Day.
Parkinson’s disease is a debilitating brain condition that causes issues with movement, mental health, sleep, pain, and other health issues. As many as 57,000 Victorians suffer from the disease for which there is currently no cure.
‘A Walk in the Park’ is an annual fundraiser for Parkinson’s disease, which takes place in Melbourne on April 21.
This year will be the first time the initiative will be held in Echuca-Moama.
The fundraiser’s organiser, Jeannette Branch, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2007 and has been raising awareness through events since 2015.
Her drive to bring as much awareness to Parkinson’s disease as possible comes from her rejection of the disease slowing her down in day-to-day life.
“I’ve had Parkinson’s for 17 years, and when I was first diagnosed, I decided I’m not going to let this beat me, so I decided to be as active as I could,” she said.
“It’s been over 200 years since Parkinson’s disease was first diagnosed, and we still don’t have a cure; it needs to happen.”
Ms Branch believes it is essential that community members of Echuca-Moama have ‘A Walk in the Park’, as many people with Parkinson’s and support group members won’t be able to attend the annual meeting in Melbourne.
Ms Branch was elected as an ambassador for ‘A Walk in the Park’ in Melbourne, and she will be representing Echuca-Moama and the community there.
Coming up: The annual ‘A Walk in the Park’ event will be held on April 21 in Melbourne, with the Echuca event taking place on World Parkinson’s Day on April 11.
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“I was chosen to be a Melbourne ‘A Walk in the Park’ ambassador due to my fundraising and things like that over the last couple of years,” she said.
“I was pretty honoured to be appointed to that position.
“Many people from the support group won’t be able to attend the Melbourne walk because it’s tough for some people to get down there, so we organised our first walk here.”
Ms Branch has raised more than $2800 by herself, with her extended team raising nearly $4000.
Along with the walk, there will be a free sausage sizzle, a raffle and Fight Parkinson’s merchandise to purchase.
Many local businesses have donated items to the raffle, including Rich River Golf Club and American Hotel Echuca.
Other businesses have donated to Ms Branch as part of her fundraising efforts for the Melbourne and Echuca events, including Echuca Workers, the Social Club at The Caledonian Hotel and the Moama Bowling Club.
“We’ve had over $1000 of vouchers donated by local businesses for our raffle on the day,” she said.
“All walkers will receive a ticket to the raffle and can buy more, with all the proceeds going towards Fight Parkinson’s.”
Ms Branch said her focus behind the event is to spread information about Parkinson’s disease to gather support and eventually find a cure.
She has been proud of her family and others in the community who have already begun donating and supporting in any way they can.
“My main aim is to bring awareness for Parkinson’s disease for the town and people living with Parkinson’s and how we need support,” she said.
“It’s amazing the support people are giving me to bring awareness to the town; it’s incredible.”
“It’s great to get the word out there and for people to be informed that no two people with Parkinson’s are the same.”
