Steve’s Blog – Aug 2 –  your turn –  English River to Thunder Bay, Ont.

Incredibly, Jim and I diagnose the issue with my gear hub, perform open hub surgery, and actually repair it. I mean “good as new” repaired.

Still not working right is the fatigue in my legs. I am wiped out today, and the headwind doesn’t help. For the first time this trip, I am truly looking forward to a rest day (day after tomorrow).

In the meantime,now it’s your turn. We are working pretty hard out here, but there is much more to accomplish, and our non-pedalling productive time is scant. We could use your help with a few things:

  • spreading the word – Kindly forward and circulate our posts and blogs widely. The wider the net, the better chance there is of getting in front of the people that we can most benefit.
  • Media – do you have media contacts that you can leverage? Please make a pitch on our behalf.  There is a “media” section at the bottom of our web page (www.SpinningWheelsTour.ca), 
  • Donations – on our donations page, we have listed a number of charities, by Province, that match our ideal of promoting physical fitness. Please consider donating and, as importantly, please share with others And if you support what Jim, Mike, Darlene and I are doing, consider funding us via our GoFundMe site
  • Events – Organize an event or reception when we are coming to your community. It is amazing to be welcomed into an event that you have put together. We rise (and ride) to the occasion. You’ll see.
  • Shelter – On the road, we really start missing home cooked meals, working showers;) and nice beds. Consider inviting us in for the night.  Think of us as 4 adorable, non-shedding, house trained, adorable (oops, repeated) puppies, who are adorable.

Reach out to us at info@SpinningWheelsTour.ca or me at S   teve@SpinningWheelsTour.ca

And to those of you who have done these things already, thanks for your support, friendship and participation.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

00:00
00:00

Why We Are Doing it

You have probably heard of Parkinson’s Disease. You may even know people who suffer from it.  Get used to it, as Parkinson’s Disease is the world’s fastest growing neurological condition, set to double in number by 2040.

Parkinson’s Disease occurs when the brain’s dopamine-producing cells die prematurely. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter necessary for many functions of the brain and body, including muscular control, and its loss affects all forms of movement and balance, as well as non-motor functions such as memory, concentration and motivation.  Think of dopamine as the electricity in an electric car: without it, the lights dim and the wheels stop spinning.

There is currently no cure, no bio-markers to aid detection, and little is known about how it is triggered, except that Canadians are disproportionately afflicted

Most people living with Parkinson’s reduce or even discontinue regular intensive physical activity after their Parkinson’s diagnosis.  Why?  Their actual skills and abilities do not suddenly evaporate on the date of their diagnosis, though their mental fortitude often does.  As a result, many abandon the very restorative health practices, such as regular exercise, when they are needed the most.  For people with Parkinson’s, intensive exercise can boost energy, sharpen the mind, elevate spirits and keep the body mobile.  Studies indicate that intense exercise can help train the Parkinson’s afflicted brain to use dopamine more efficiently and be able to do more with less.

Let’s use the dopamine we have to build the lives we want.

What are We Doing

Canada is a big country.  It is home to over 100,000 people living with Parkinson’s disease, 9 in 10 of which suffer in silence, isolation, or without the support of a knowledgeable organization or community.  Starting in June 2022, we aim to cross our big country by bicycle to meet as many of these people as possible to personally deliver this message: get moving to stay moving.  

We start In Victoria, British Columbia and ride east through every Canadian province, and hundreds of cities and towns along the way.  Our route is approximately 8,000 km, and we expect to average 125 km a day, six days a week for approximately three months.  Our Spinning Wheels Tour team will include two riders with Parkinson’s Disease, as well as two ride-along supporters to keep things moving.  Along the way, we will be meeting with people whose lives are touched by Parkinson’s, and encourage them to get moving with us, get engaged in support communities, and to set up their own group athletics.

We are not athletes, just people with the resolve to do what it takes to live well with this disease, and to encourage others..  

Along the way, we hope to hear these words, “If they can do it, I can too.”