Yesterday was the Parkinson’s Unity Walk in New York’s Central Park. Did we go?
Do you even have to ask?
We rode the train down the Hudson River to Manhattan. Curious Parky stared out the window the whole time. Hello, New Jersey (across the river)!
We took a cab from the train station in Manhattan to Central Park. The only way you can be sure this is not a black-and-white photo is by noticing the red, white and blue peace symbol button on Parky’s sweatshirt! Peace! We need more than just a piecemeal piece of it!
At the entrance to the park (on Fifth Avenue at 72nd Street), we were greeted by some Unity Walk volunteers who pointed us in the direction of the event. Why was this necessary? A little background information is in order….
Central Park, at 843 acres, is one of the largest city parks in the world. Thousands of visitors use it every day, such as these New Yorkers who are running and biking on one of the roads that loop through the park. So this is not the Parkinson’s Unity Walk you see here!
Other people use the open spaces for exercising. No, these folks here are not warming up for the Unity Walk, either.
Beautiful plants aplenty…
…and quiet, serene green spaces…
…where sheep still graze. (Joke! Thanks, Wikipedia, for the photo of Central Park in the olden days!)
So where was the Unity Walk? Click on the video below!
It’s right here, in the heart of the park! Here we see people crossing the finish line, cheered on by professional cheerleaders, and congratulated by a narrator with a loud microphone! They’ve all just completed a 1.4 mile walk to raise awareness of, and funding for, Parkinson’s disease! And got in their daily exercise simultaneously!
But the event is more than just a walk in the park! A long stretch on one of the side roads is filled with tents sponsored by various Parkinson’s-related groups.
There’s the big tent Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research!
The Parkinson’s Foundation…
…the American Parkinson Disease Association…
…the pharmaceutical company Abbvie…
…and lots of people doing various things! Not only did we see this big banner for Rock Steady Boxing…
But you could try it out yourself!
Photo ops abounded!
Here we are with Kathleen Jordan at our favorite booth, the World Parkinson Congress!
And here we are again with some of the top DJ’s from Radio Parkies!
Of course, it was fun to people watch! One shirt, two shirts, red shirts, blue shirts…
Blue shirts from Montana…
…blue-feathered head antennae from the planet Ork…
…blue-shirted Vikings who invaded the Unity Walk last year and came back for more! Hey, where’s the mead?
At the end of the day, the cheerleaders asked if they could take a group shot with Parky (see him in the lower right corner). Of course, we said yes!
Note: If you weren’t able to attend the Unity Walk this year but would still like to donate, click here!
Parky sure takes you to some fun events, in beautiful locations!!