Doug Martens, 57, of Winnipeg, Manitoba is the official winner of the first 2010 Parkinson SuperWalk early bird prize draw for a $500 Roots gift card. He qualified by raising over $100 online by May 3rd. “Having my name drawn was totally unexpected,” says Doug. “I rarely win anything so this is like a gift.”
Doug knows firsthand the value of the annual Parkinson SuperWalk. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 50 and within two-and-half years of the diagnosis, he found the tremor in his left arm was so noticeable it affected his ability to continue to work as a regional pharmacy manager for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. He retired at 53.
Over the years, Doug has benefited from the support, education, research and advocacy provided by Parkinson Society Canada and its regional partners. He champions the Parkinson SuperWalk, noting that “the funds raised in SuperWalk go towards easing the burden for people living with Parkinson’s, their families and care partners and finding a cure so that others don’t have to live with the disease.”
Doug and his wife have decided to donate his Early Bird Prize to Parkinson Society Manitoba so that the Parkinson SuperWalk events in Brandon, Gimli, Morden and Winnipeg can provide prizes during SuperWalk to encourage others to raise more money.
Read more about Doug’s journey with Parkinson’s on Parkinson Society Canada’s website.
