Get Going for Parkinson’s | Parkinson's New Zealand

Throughout the year thousands of New Zealanders of all ages, shapes and sizes push themselves to meet the challenge of events such as the Round the Bays, 5kms, Triathlons and Ironmans. Some enter as individuals, others as teams and for others it is a school or corporate event.

If you are thinking of "getting going" we would love you to choose Parkinson’s New Zealand as the charity for your event. We will be delighted to welcome you to Team Parkinson’s.

A message from Peter Snell, Parkinson's New Zealand Ambassador, to people who get going and join Team Parkinson's:

I'm proud to be part of the Parkinson's Team and I'm glad you've joined us. Thank you for making Parkinson's New Zealand your chosen charity and including us in your efforts to Get Going

Contact us and we will send you a pack that includes a welcome letter with training tips from New Zealand Olympian and Parkinson's New Zealand Ambassador, Peter Snell, a t-shirt or running vest, fundraising and sponsorship advice . We will also give you lots of ongoing support and encouragement. You could also encourage others to Get Going for Parkinson’s.

If you do not already have an event in mind, the following websites can help you find one www.playsport.co.nz, www.runningcalendar.co.nz, www.eventfinder.co.nz, www.eventpromotions.co.nz .

To help you with your fundraising, you may want to use our service at FundraiseOnline. FundraiseOnline lets you easily set up your own fundraising web page, accessible by anyone anywhere in the world for donations. This handy option allows your sponsors to make donations to Parkinson's New Zealand for your event using their credit cards in a secure online environment. To set up a fundraising page click here.

You can also use Givealittle.

For more information please email getgoing@parkinsons.org.nz or call 0800 473 4636

Past Events

We have had some amazing people “Get Going for Parkinson’s” in many different events.

Below are just a few of them, maybe their stories will inspire you to get going also!

2012

Dunedin Marathon

Sally McDonald had always been interested in the idea of doing a marathon ‘one day’. Then at the end of a ski season in Italy she did some research to find out whether there were any event on whilst she was in Queenstown. The Dunedin Moro Marathon on 9th September gave her just enough time to train and compete before heading back out of the country.

She heard about ‘Get Going for Parkinson’s’ through the website and thought that this would be a great opportunity to offer her support, especially considering her Dad had received really great support since he was diagnosed. She set her fundraising goal at $1,000.

In the weeks leading up to the marathon Sally found the training hard but rewarding. Still she really enjoyed the prospect of saying ‘I’ve just run from one side of the Otago harbour to the other – from Harrington Point to Port Chalmers, 42.2 kms!”

There was such a good response from family and friends that altogether Sally raised $1,150. As her brother said in his congratulatory message after she completed the event, ‘What a Legend’.

Paris Marathon

Every April, up to 40,000 runners jostle their way through the streets of Paris in the annual Paris International Marathon. In amongst them this year was Shelley Musk from Papakura.

Shelley ran the 42km race in memory of her parents--Shelley’s mother Joyce died in January 2011 and her father, who had Parkinson’s, died two weeks before the event. Shelley raised $2,000 for Parkinson’s New Zealand through sponsorship.

Shelley says

“I’ve set myself a goal of doing five marathons before I’m 50 and I’m rapidly running out of the time! (Shelley defines a goal as “a dream with a time limit.”) So I plan to run the Auckland marathon this year, then Boston in 2013 and London in 2014. Hopefully the knees and body will stand the physical challenge! “

Shelley's first marathon was the New York Marathon in 2009 which she also ran for Parkinson's. UPDATE On 28 October Shelley completed her third marathon for Parkinson's, the Auckland Marathon.

2011

No Brakes for Charity

Francis and Andrew cycled the 430 km from Christchurch to Wanaka 14-16 December 2011. They broke the journey down into roughly 140 km treks. Their plan -

"The first day we make it to Geraldine. The next day we tank it to Twizel and after that its the big one WANAKA." And along the way raise some money for Parkinson's.

Tinman trialthlon

Taranaki Field Officer Sue Allemann completed the Mt Maunganui Tinman trialthlon, 4 December 2011. A Tinman involves a 1500m swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run.

Sue says - "I was very pleased to complete this challenge. It's only since I went to Outward Bound with UPBEAT as a Support person a couple of years ago that I started doing any running! For the challenge I had wonderful support from friends, family and Parkinson's members and have raised over $1,000."

Pedal for Parkinson’s Team

Ruth Chapman & Andrew Knewstubb

Ruth’s father and sister have both been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. So Ruth has become determined to assist them in their fight with Parkinson’s by raising awareness and funds for Parkinson’s New Zealand. Ruth and Andrew competed in a mountain bike blast in October 2010 and took on the Graperide MAGNUM ride, in Blenheim on the 2nd April (202km road bike race) and the Contact Epic in Lake Hawea on the 16th April (125km Mountain bike race).

Coast to Coast Race

Stephen Horwell

Stephen took part in the two day, 243 kilometre cycle, run and kayak race held in the South Island in February 2011. To prepare for this he participated in several events in 2010, including the Taupo Cycle Challenge which is 160kilometers! He is competed to raise money for Parkinson’s New Zealand to help with research, education and support for people and families living with Parkinson’s.

2010

Peking2Paris4Parkinson's Car Rally

Bruce & Ben Washington

A father and son adventure that saw Bruce and Ben racing from Peking, China to Paris, France in a 1929 Chrysler Roadster from September 10 - October 16. They used their event as an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson's.

Auckland Marathon
Ruth Kohlhase

When Ruth Kohlhase decided to “Get Going for Parkinson’s” through the Auckland Marathon she was doing it for her father and the 10,000 New Zealanders with Parkinson’s. She had a very modest goal of $100 but ended up raising nearly $5000!

Hawaii half marathon
Alex Lambah

On June 5 at 7am Alex began a six hour, nine minute gruelling journey that included a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run. A total of 70.3 miles in the name of “Get Going for Parkinson’s”! Parkinson's disease has profoundly affected his family and a number of his family's friends. Alex did this race on their behalf and to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s New Zealand and Parkinson’s UK.