What do a former Las Vegas Dancer, a mental health advocate, and trekking enthusiast have in common?
Each is passionate about helping others less fortunate than themselves and especially those in the community living with Parkinson’s disease, demonstrating that regardless of your background or profession, you can make a difference and help change people’s lives.
Almost sounds like the start of a riddle, a dancer and a Silverfox and an old trekker walk into a bar. But this time it’s for a mighty cause.
Helping to slow, stop and hopefully end Parkinson’s disease.
And instead of walking into a bar, these people along with a group of like minded trekkers are taking on the one of the worlds most demanding treks, the Annapurna circuit in Nepal
Climbing to a height of 5416m, in April 2025, enduring high altitude, remoteness, cold, an entirely new culture, all for an amazing and deserving cause.
All while taking in the vistas of the stunning Annapurna circuit, containing the first 8000m peak to be climbed, several 7000m and 6000m peaks and then a few smaller mountains at 5000.
To put in perspective our own highest mountain in Australia , Mt Kosciusko is 2228m. Big numbers indeed.
With the youngest trekker being 21 and the oldest at 64 years and then a variety in between. All with the goal of raising $10,000 to help Shake it Up Australia to fund and find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. From all walks of life, all with a common goal.
On the Sunshine Coast we have more than 2000 people directly impacted by PD and another 12,000 indirectly, and these numbers are growing, by 38 people a day nationally.
“If you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything,” Marty McFly (AKA Michael J Fox) said.
And that’s what they aim to do, fundraising through raffles, donations, dinners, trekking shirt and short sales, head shaving by Bec, Sipping and painting, referrals to sponsors, to name a few.
Many people helping each to do their bit, and together making a big difference.
And ultimately we are getting people to talk, talk about a terrible condition and do something about it, by dancing, talking and trekking.
#trekforparkinsons2025 would love to hear your story, receive your help and ideas. Every dollar we raise goes directly to help Shake it Up Australia.
