
The fastest growing neurological disorder in the modern world, Parkinson’s has cemented itself as a scourge of our generation. Like many across the world, we were unfortunate to experience this wrath first hand in our beloved Grandfather Peter Fowler (AKA The Doc). After more than a year of suffering, on November 16, 2022, the Doc passed away peacefully. And so, just as quickly as Pete's journey ended, ours began…
Through our adventure, we will raise awareness and funds for groundbreaking Parkinson’s research, with a special focus on the associated psychological and mental aspects. Our purpose is to ignite social recognition, inspire generosity, and drive for a future without Parkinson’s. We will be working alongside Dr. Neil Vasdev, the Director and Chief Radiochemist of the Brain Health Imaging Centre at CAMH as we plan to donate to the greater CAMH mental health program to help a broader demographic.
Without further ado, our adventure: this summer, we will bike from Dawson City, a small town in the Yukon, to Tuktoyaktuk of the Northwest Territories. With over 1,000 kilometers of tough terrain standing in our way, we expect our journey to take approximately 3 weeks. We plan to leave Dawson City in mid-July such that we will be able to dip our bikes in the Arctic Ocean come mid-August. Along the way, we will encounter the most extreme conditions: torrential downpour, feverish heat, unforgiving headwinds, swarming bugs, and much more. All of this will be accompanied by 24-hour sunlight, and the occasional grizzly bear sighting. Yet, it will be these hardships that make this journey what it is as they serve to represent the constant struggle a Parkinson’s patient goes through every day.
Mental health and disease have always been big topics in our family, as they are for many, so we find ourselves incredibly grateful to be able to contribute in such a meaningful way. However, our goal to fund innovative and impactful research can only be achieved with your help. We need you – for the Doc and for everyone affected.