Family walks for grandpa, for cure for Parkinson’s

Published 12:00 am Saturday, April 19, 2008

By Sarah Stultz, staff writer

For the past two years, one local family has been going the distance for their grandpa.

Having seen the effects of Parkinson&8217;s disease firsthand in their grandfather Glenn Ruble, the family decided to step up to the plate and get involved in the Twin Cities Walk for Parkinson&8217;s Disease.

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The walk, which this year will be on May 3, is sponsored by the Parkinson Association of Minnesota. It aims to raise money that will go toward research, advocacy, community building and public awareness of the disease.

Parkinson&8217;s is a brain disorder that most visibly causes tremors, slowness of movement and rigidity in those who have it.

&8220;Parkinson&8217;s is like so many things,&8221; said Glenn&8217;s wife, Maureen. &8220;You know of it, but you don&8217;t know a lot about it until you&8217;re affected by it.&8221;

Currently, there are about 1.5 million Americans who have the disease, according to the National Parkinson Foundation. Sixty-thousand new cases

are diagnosed each year.

Though many people think of Parkinson&8217;s as a disease that affects older people, it is estimated that 15 percent of all patients are under 50 years of age and 10 percent are under 40 years of age.

So many people have been touched by it, Maureen said. And because of this, the family wanted to spread the word of the event and see if anyone wanted to get involved. They will be raising money up until the day of the event for the cause.

Glenn&8217;s daughter, Kim Gooden, said in their first year of the walk, the family raised $2,500; last year they raised about $3,900. This year they hope to do just as well.

&8220;It just seemed like something we needed to do,&8221; Gooden said. &8220;I just feel like until they find a cure, we need to keep doing this.&8221;

Maureen said though the event can in some ways be a sad one to attend &8212; because there are some people who are so far along with their systems &8212; it is also

a time of joy and family togetherness.

They have family members that come from as far as South Dakota to take part in it.

&8220;It&8217;s kind of overwhelming,&8221; Glenn said.

In addition to the walk at the event, there are also several displays set up about Parkinson&8217;s that explain the many resources that are available for Parkinson&8217;s patients and their families.

Refreshments are served and Bert Blyleven, former pitcher of the Minnesota Twins, is out meeting and greeting attendees. Blyleven has seen the first-hand effects of the disease as well, as his own father passed away from it in 2004 at the age of 78.

He is the honorary co-chairman of the Parkinson Association of Minnesota.

&8220;We just think it is so important for people to become aware of it,&8221; Maureen said.

The Parkinson Association of Minnesota, a chapter affiliate of the National Parkinson Foundation, is a nonprofit, voluntary alliance that is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by Parkinson&8217;s disease. It does this through fundraising, community building, advocacy and increasing public awareness.

Anyone interested in donating can write a check payable to the Parkinson Association of Minnesota. Checks can be mailed to Gooden at 64609 120th St., Emmons, MN 56029.

People can register the day of the event as well if interested in taking part in the walk itself.