Ottawa women help raise over $40,000 for Parkinson Society

By Louise Rachlis
Two local women who climbed Kilimanjaro as a fundraising project for Parkinson Society Canada talked about their climb at the annual general meeting and strawberry social of Parkinson Society Ottawa.
Reta Currie and Sandy Bookalam helped to raise over $40,000 for Parkinson’s across the country, including over $18,000 for the Ottawa organization.
In 2009, Reta Currie had a fantasy of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. She also had a dear friend diagnosed with Parkinson’s. She looked after him for a few months, and he got on medication and was able to do all the things he wanted to do.
Sandy works in biochemistry at the Ottawa Hospital and she had a friend with Parkinson’s, so she was glad to come on board for the climb.
Reta got in touch with Dennise Taylor-Gilhen, executive director of Parkinson Society Ottawa, and then she started her fundraising through a variety show for her business network group.
Sandy sold 50/50 draws and baskets.
Others on the climb were from across the country, including four nurses (one who is living with Parkinson’s herself), and a lab technologist.
To get in shape, Sandy did boot camp for six months, three times a week. Reta did a lot of distance walking. “It was important to walk slowly, to adjust to the altitude,” she says.
On the climb, they walked up 1,100 feet every day, summiting February 14th. They left base camp at 6:15 a.m. in the worst snowstorm in years. “Getting to the top was exhilarating, but we couldn’t see a thing. It was really treacherous and other groups turned back.”
It took them nine hours to reach the summit, and three hours to get back. On the way down, Sandy fell and tore her shoulder, but she persevered and finished the climb.
The AGM was held at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre at Britannia Park June 27th, with strawberry treats provided by Leatherworks Catering.
Newly elected chair Sprague Plato appreciated the opportunity to speak to many people with Parkinson’s and their caregivers during the course of the meeting. “I was both saddened by the challenges many of them face on a daily basis, and impressed by their positive and even courageous attitude towards the future,” he says. “Virtually everyone I spoke to also expressed their deep appreciation for the Parkinson Society of Ottawa and its efforts on their behalf.”
As for himself, “because of Parkinson’s, I’ve found another community to be part of. As well as helping ourselves, we’re also helping those that come after us to age with grace and dignity.”
For information on Parkinson Society Ottawa, please view www.parkinsons.ca or call 613-722-9238.