The Rye Parkinson’s Project hosted their inaugural fundraising walk for Parkinson’s disease on Saturday, raising over $12,000 as of this writing. Over 100 supporters met at Playland Park to walk a 0.8 mile loop together in support of research toward a cure for the disease.
The event was organized by co-founders of the Rye Parkinson’s Project, Rye High School Gabriela and Sofia Steinmetz. They created the group in support of their father, Jonathan, who was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s in 2021. The entire Steinmetz family was involved with the event, including Gabriela and Sofia younger brother Noah, a fifth grader at Osborn Elementary School, who did the research to be able to provide information about Parkinson’s and its effects to event attendees.
In a heartwarming speech to commence the walk, Gabriela thanked everyone who came out to the walk, telling the crowd, “What started out as a dream for my sister and me has become a reality thanks to you.”
Jonathan Steinmetz also spoke, recalling about his experience with being diagnosed and the persistent struggle of living with the symptoms of Parkinson’s. He ended on an uplifting note, saying, “It’s a tough disease…I’m glad that everyone is here to fund the prospect of a cure. We’re making progress everyday.”
All of the donations that the Rye Parkinson’s Project has collected through this event will be donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, to fund research towards a treatment and cure for Parkinson’s. “There are a lot of promising things going on in the lab, and that gives my dad hope, and hope for everyone being diagnosed,” said Sophia Steinmetz.
Readers can support the Rye Parkinson’s Project.
