Raising awareness for what is become a more commonly diagnosed disease
According to the Parkinson Canada website, Parkinson’s is currently the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world. Because of that, it’s very important that everyone knows about Parkinson’s Disease. Since April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Dean Pruden decided to share his experience with the disease to bring awareness not only to the illness but also so more people know about a local event that he and his wife, Lorri, put on to raise funds for Parkinson’s research.
Pruden’s story with Parkinson’s disease goes back 15 years to his diagnosis in 2010.
“A co-worker noticed that I was walking with a limp and he asked what was wrong with my leg and I said, ‘Nothing’. I didn’t realize that anything was wrong. Later the same co-worker saw that something was wrong with my arm and he asked what was wrong with my arm. I said, ‘Nothing. I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Again, I didn’t notice it but it affected my one side. I had a little bit of leg drag and no arm swing. I finally went to my doctor and he said I think it might be Parkinson’s,” said Pruden.
After going to a couple of specialists to confirm, the doctors made the official diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and explained that he’d probably had it for a little while but didn’t notice until his symptoms became more obvious.
Pruden said that, at the time of his official diagnosis, he was expecting it but it was still a bit of a shock.
“It’s a life-changing diagnosis, right? It’s obviously progressive, and there’s no cure for it. I was worried about the people around me too. It didn’t just affect me but my whole family,” said Pruden.
Parkinson’s is a disease that presents differently for different people. Some people experience tremors or stiffness while others might experience issues with speech or walking. Symptoms that aren’t always acknowledged with Parkinson’s disease are that it can affect mental and emotional health as well.
Pruden didn’t let this diagnosis stop him from doing the things that he’s enjoyed and he’s kept active the past 15 years.
“Exercise is probably the best thing for it. Exercise slows the progression they say,” said Pruden.
He explained that at one point he joined a fitness group for people with Parkinson’s and he’s always worked out with weights and kept that up. Additionally, he continued to play hockey for many years. And, though he’s slowed down some because we’ve had some less-than-snowy winters, he also was a snowmobiler for many years. Right now, he says that he and his wife enjoy biking and hiking so that’s their main way to keep active.
Something that Pruden has done for a long time now to bring awareness to Parkinson’s disease as well as help to raise funds for Parkinson Canada is to take part in and organize the local Parkinson Canada SuperWalk.
“Every year there’s one walk in Winnipeg and there used to be a Walk in Gimli. A group of my friends got together and formed a group to raise money for Parkinson’s and take part in this walk. We named our team the Opap Shakers,” said Pruden.
Since then, he and Lorri have moved and now they coordinate the local Parkinson Canada SuperWalk annually in East Selkirk.
The walk takes place in the fall. This year it’s planned for the beginning of September.
Pruden explained that it’s not just about raising funds but about maintaining connections.
“You want to keep your relationships going. It’s for a cause that I’m interested in and my friends wanted to do something to show support for me and to raise money at the same time,” he explained.
He’s been coordinating the walk for ten years and with an average fundraising of over $5,000 a year, this walk definitely is a success both in bringing people together and fundraising for Parkinson’s.
Pruden encourages residents to keep an eye out for the walk in the fall and to join if they want to support Parkinson’s research.
His advice for people in our community who may have been recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s is that it’s not a death sentence.
“Just live your life and don’t give up. There’s lots of breakthroughs coming along all the time for Parkinson’s,” said Pruden.
He also recommends connecting with U-Turn Parkinson’s if you want to learn more about exercise classes for people with Parkinson’s. They are online at uturnparkinsons.org. You can learn more about Parkinson’s disease at the Parkinson Canada website at www.parkinson.ca.
