Pedaling with Parkinson\u2019s<\/h3>\n
Prior to his Parkinson\u2019s diagnosis, Dan and his friends were planning a cross-country cycling trip. With the news of his diagnosis, Dan didn\u2019t know if his dream trip would be possible. Through the encouragement of his friends and family, Dan decided to stay the course and pedal from British Colombia back to his home in Prince Edward Island (PEI). In that seven-week haul, Dan discovered that cycling was the activity that would help him manage his Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n
People often ask, \u201cCan someone with Parkinson\u2019s ride a bike?\u201d Many of the more well-known symptoms of Parkinson\u2019s like balance issues and tremors make this question commonplace among people who are not educated about Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n
![\"recumbant](\"https:\/\/archiveparkinson.thedev.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/recumbant-trike-option-1-224x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone with Parkinson’s has a different set of symptoms,\u201d says Dan. \u00ab\u00a0Only some people will have balance issues or weakness in different parts of their body. There are many people with Parkinson’s who will be able to ride a normal upright bike for the remainder of their lives. However, people who develop balance issues can still enjoy cycling by using different kinds of bikes.\u201d<\/p>\n
As Parkinson\u2019s symptoms begin to compound, there are ways to adjust your cycling abilities. You can ride:<\/p>\n
- \n
- An upright bike or trike<\/li>\n
- A recumbent bike or trike<\/li>\n
- A recumbent or upright e-bike or e-trike<\/li>\n
- A Trishaw<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dan has been repairing and selling bikes to build up his growing fleet of bikes and trikes so he can lend them to people within the Parkinson\u2019s community to encourage them to discover a love for cycling, too. He says connecting with local bike shops like MacQueen\u2019s Bike Shop in Charlottetown will help people find their own starting point.<\/p>\n
\u201cMacQueen’s has been a tremendous help in finding bike parts,\u201d says Dan.<\/p>\n
Pedaling for Parkinson\u2019s<\/h3>\n
As the lead volunteer for Pedaling with Parkinson’s in the Maritimes, Dan sees the pedaling event as all-inclusive. There are so many options when it comes to cycling that truly anyone can participate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are trying to engage everyone with Parkinson\u2019s with this event\u201d, says Dan. \u201cWhether they have balance issues or not.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pedaling for Parkinson\u2019s is helping seniors to discover cycling as an activity for their wellness, uniting friends and families and providing memory-making opportunities for children, parents, grandparents and everyone in between all while raising awareness of Parkinson\u2019s Disease.<\/p>\n
![\"Dan](\"https:\/\/archiveparkinson.thedev.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/recumbant-trike-option-2-167x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThere wasn\u2019t always a Pedaling For Parkinson\u2019s event in PEI. Members of Dan\u2019s Early Onset Support Group talked about the pedaling event that had taken place in Ontario, and with the 270km long Confederation Trail in their backyards, they said to each other, \u201cWouldn\u2019t it be great to do something like that here?\u201d<\/p>\n
Dan stepped into the role of lead volunteer as he had recently received his DBS surgery and with it, a recommitment to supporting people living with Parkinson\u2019s. When Dan talks about stepping back into volunteer work he always mentions the incredible people motivating him to continue spreading awareness and education about Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n
![\"Dan](\"https:\/\/archiveparkinson.thedev.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/recumbent-bikes-from-Dan-Steeve-to-Jim-Redmond-and-Steven-Iseman-1-300x225.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPeople like Steve Iseman – one of the individuals that brought the idea of a PEI pedaling event into the support group conversation, and who is currently on a cross-country cycle of his own.<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"Dan](\"https:\/\/archiveparkinson.thedev.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Dan-and-Paul2-1-224x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAnd Bruce Macpherson, one of the friends who had joined Dan on his cross-country cycling trip. Dan says, \u201cBruce completed his trip in five weeks, but he could have done it in even less!\u201d Bruce now sits as a fellow event committee member alongside Dan.<\/p>\n
![\"Harry](\"https:\/\/archiveparkinson.thedev.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Harrys-first-trike-ride-with-pedal-assist-300x169.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLastly, his friend Harry Hariharan \u2013 who discovered a newfound sense of mobility in cycling with Dan\u2019s help \u2013 Dan says is one of the biggest reasons he committed himself to cycling all those years ago.<\/p>\n
These are just a few of many names Dan offers with ease when asked about cycling and what Pedaling for Parkinson\u2019s means to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t just my story,\u201d says Dan. \u201cIt’s our community\u2019s story and I want the right message shared. That\u2019s why I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dan is trying to reach those in the Parkinson\u2019s community experiencing the harsh realities of Parkinson\u2019s. The ones who are struggling.\u00a0 He wants them to know that the community sees them, and even when living well seems so far out of the question, there are ways to live better.<\/p>\n
Dan is a reminder that new experiences can come at any age and he encourages everyone from young children to the elderly to come out a try a pedaling event.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u2019t make it? Check out some of these videos to learn more about all the cycling options for people living with Parkinson\u2019s,\u201d says Dan.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Learn about Trishaws<\/a><\/li>\n
- Learn about Recumbent bikes and trikes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Pedaling into 2022<\/h3>\n
In its inaugural year, the event raised over $30,000 \u00a0and about 100 participants.<\/p>\n
The goal for this year? To raise $50,000 in donations and attract at least 200 participants. Both a challenge and a realistic goal, given the support the event received last year! The support groups, volunteer resource center, Brookvale ski patrol (where Dan spent 13 years volunteering before his diagnosis), and his family and friends were all on board in supporting and participating in the inaugural event. \u201cAnd now they\u2019re coming out again this year,\u201d Dan says.<\/p>\n
Learn more about Pedaling for Parkinson\u2019s<\/a>, read more stories like Dan\u2019s<\/a>, and learn how easy it is to set up an event in your area<\/a> with the support of Parkinson\u2019s Canada.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
- Learn about Recumbent bikes and trikes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Learn about Trishaws<\/a><\/li>\n