Despite a light (and welcome!) rain shower during the recent Speedy Pd Race for Parkinson's Disease, nothing could wash away event organizers' excitement about the record number of registered participants for the 15th annual event, which occurred Saturday, Aug. 26, at Tuttle Creek State Park. Race directors Kimmie Koharchik, Doug Sellers, and Michelle Geering, along with event coordinator Michelle Haub knew that surpassing last year's number of runners and walkers was a real possibility in 2023. In fact, racing past 2022's participant total of 596 was accomplished the week before the event. The total number of entries received for the Half-Mile Memorial Walk/Run, Don Rasmussen 5K, and the 10K race was 801! Thank you to all who registered to help us reach this milestone.

Additionally, sponsors, vendors, participants, people with Parkinson's, family members and friends invested in Meadowlark Parkinson's Program in the form of cash and gift-in-kind contributions. Community First National Bank led the way this year as the event's presenting sponsor. According to Becky Fitzgerald, Development Director, donations and race entry fees have continued to arrive, but as this edition of the Messenger went to print, that support totals $64,437. Contributors to the annual Parkinson's Patron campaign have given an additional $12,230.

The donations received help Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program continue to provide free support to those affected by Parkinson’s, whether diagnosed or a care partner, at Meadowlark, in the greater Manhattan community, and neighboring counties. The program helps people learn and understand Parkinson’s, exercise to help combat the physical and emotional symptoms, engage with others to ward off the depression and apathy symptoms of the disease, and most of all, offers hope and encouragement to those with Pd and their family/care partners so that they can live well with Parkinson’s.

If you, a family member, friend, or coworker have questions about Pd, please know Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program is here to help. You can reach Michelle or Katie by calling (785) 323-3899 or email parkinson@meadowlark.org.