The tremors, the shuffling feet, the cognitive changes. Christine Jewell of Chilliwack knows firsthand what people with Parkinson's disease suffer from.
Her husband, Jim, was diagnosed with the disease in 2009 and died in 2021.
He loved nature shows and history shows. Jim built race cars and a two-seater plane. He didn't have time to get his pilot's licence so friends would take him flying in it. He also built radio controlled airplanes and very intricate model ships.
“He was a very, very talented, very, very intelligent man, and then Parkinson’s just kind of took that all away. It's an ugly one.”
Jim deteriorated pretty quickly at the end and had some of the worst symptoms. He was also diagnosed with Lewy body dementia after his Parkinson's diagnosis.
For the last years of his life, and to this day, Christine has helped with the Parkinson SuperWalk so people like Jim and their family members have access to the support and care they need.
"SuperWalk gives Parkinson Society B.C. some of the funding it needs to continue as the all-important resource it is for people with Parkinson's. For the individuals who participate in SuperWalk, whether by donating funds or getting out and walking alongside of or for their loved one, it gives us something practical that we can do to show our support to them," she said.
"There is a feeling of helplessness in watching our loved ones go through a challenging, progressive and often debilitating condition like Parkinson's disease and in this small way we can help and let them know how much they mean to us."
There are 18 walks throughout B.C. – 13 in-person and five virtual – taking place on Sept. 6 and 7. To make it accessible for those with the disease, the three routes are short: 0.8 kilometres, 1.2 kilometres, and 1.6 kilometres.
The society does not receive government funding and it relies entirely on donations and fundraisers like the SuperWalk to provide programs and support for those with Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder caused by a loss of the cells that produce dopamine, affecting parts of the brain that control smooth, voluntary movements, such as walking, writing, throwing a ball, or buttoning a shirt. The loss of dopamine also causes a number of non-motor symptoms, including depression, anxiety, sleep problems, fatigue, pain, cognitive difficulties, and more. The symptoms of Parkinson’s typically appear when more than half of the dopamine-producing cells are lost.
Christine has used countless resources and services offered by the society. She's attended regional conferences, watched videos, gone to facilitators’ training, and attended a speech clinic with Jim. The society supported her family while Jim was still alive by being the first place they could turn to for answers, and for practical tips and solutions like exercise resources.
The society offers day-to-day support to people with Parkinson’s, plus "relevant, succinct” resources for not just those with the disease but caregivers as well. They are “constantly” researching and providing new programs and new ways to help people, she added.
Money also goes to research, and education for doctors and therapists who treat Parkinson’s patients.
“They are huge advocates, whether it's financial support for people with Parkinson's whether it's legislative changes that might help, pharmaceutical changes, those are all things that they get quite involved in.”
She pointed out one treatment called deep-brain stimulation, where electrodes are inserted into the affected part of the brain to alleviate symptoms and she said it has been life changing for some patients. Up until recently, it was only being offered by one doctor in B.C. with a years-long wait to see him.
“Parkinson's Society has been advocating to get another doctor through the B.C. health system and finally did.”
With all that Parkinson Society B.C. does, there's still only a small turnout every year for the SuperWalk and Christine believes it’s because there’s no general knowledge of the disease.
“I don't think a lot of people know about Parkinson's unless they are affected by someone who has Parkinson's, and I don't think anyone who's not affected by it directly really understands the enormity of the disease and how much of an impact it has on people's lives. It affects digestion, sleep, it affects eating, it affects your bowels… everything.
"Parkinson's disease is a hard thing to deal with. And so is fear of the unknown. Learn all you can about Parkinson's disease, but don’t let it scare you," she said. "Worrying about it can’t change anything, and if you worry and whatever you fear doesn’t happen then you’ve wasted energy worrying for nothing. Use that energy to exercise and do anything you can to be well as long as you can."
Approximately 17,500 people are living with the disease in B.C. It goes up by about 1,000 people every year. The provincial goal for the walk is to raise $300,000. Here in Chilliwack a few thousand dollars are raise every year.
Christine said her favourite part of the walk is seeing the friends and family members of people with the disease who are there to give their support.
"Raising the funds to help Parkinson Society B.C. is great, of course, but the emotional support and understanding is even more important."
Her advice to those diagnosed with the disease is to talk about it.
"Most importantly, don’t hide it. You may feel self-conscious, but when others know that you have a challenge like Parkinson's disease I have found that they go out of their way to help, to be patient and to accept that you may just need a little more time to do things or figure things out. Accept help."
For a list of all Parkinson SuperWalk locations in B.C., and to register or donate, go to .
For more info, go to .
