HONESDALE –The fourth annual Pocono Fox Trot 5K race takes place this Saturday, June 16, at Ann Street Park in Milford, and the organizers are hoping to raise $50,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
The event, which also includes a one-mile walk and a Kids’ Dash, raised just over $20,000 in its inaurgural year, $30,000 the next year and $40,000 last year, for a total of $92,000. The annual race is followed by a party in the park with food, music, raffles and a resource fair, where support programs and service providers will have information about their programs.
Roland Grote and Eric Linde, who both suffer from Parkinson’s Disease, attended the Wayne County Commissioner’s Meet recently to receive a proclamation declaring June as Parkinson’s Disease Research Awareness Month.
Grote said he was diagnosed seven years ago, noting there is no cure for the disease but its progression can be arrested. He warned those with a new diagnosis of overmedicating to early, since the efficacy of the medications only lasts for so long.
Linde, diagnosed more recently, said the sooner the disease can be identified, the more you can control it – mostly with exercise and by remaining active. “I’m better now than I was a year and a half ago by retraining the muscles and nerves,” he explained.
The men said there is a lot of help available, including a Parkinson’s Support Group that meets each month at Wayne Memorial Hospital, and there is a new Balance Clinic due to open soon that will specialize in helping those with Parkinson’s Disease.
Commissioner Chairman Brian Smith, noting the average age for the onset of Parkinson’s Disease is 50 to 65, said the county will likely see more and more cases as the population ages, at time when being active is more of an expectation later in life.
Registration for the race closes at 8 pm tonight (Friday, June 15) but donations will continue to be accepted, and both can be accomplished online.
CUTLINES – Roland Grote (center) and Eric Linde accept the proclamation declaring June as Parkinson’s Disease Research Awareness Month from the Wayne County Commissioners Wendell Kay (left), Brian Smith and Joe Adams (right).
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