Up to 200 people are expected take part in the Parkinson's Superwalk Saturday to help raise funds for Parkinson's research.
The walk, which will take place at Delki Dozzi Park, and will start at 11 a.m., and will help support Parkinson's Society Canada and Parkinson's Society Central and Northern Ontario.
Nora Lea Arcand, who has had Parkinson's disease for 23 years, said some funds will help with education materials and advocacy, but most will go to research.
“We're making progress but we're not there yet,” she said, regarding Parkinson's disease research.
The main family of drugs used to treat the degenerative disorder – called levodopa medicines – have been used for more than 40 years.
The drugs can have severe side effects after prolonged use, including dyskinesia, a category of movement disorders characterized by involuntary movements and tics.
“It can be almost as debilitating as the disease itself,” Arcand said.
Last year's Parkinson's Superwalk in Sudbury raised $19,556 for research and support.
The goal for this year's event, said Arcand, is to surpass $20,000.
Last year's Superwalks across Canada raised around $2.76 million for Parkinson's research. The goal is to exceed $3 million in funds for 2014.
Parkinson's disease impacts a person's movement and is characterized by tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement and postural instability.
It is estimated that around one per cent of Canadians have the disease.
Arcand has connected with around 100 people in Sudbury who have Parkinson's disease through the Parkinson's Support Group of Sudbury.
For more information about the Parkinson's Superwalk, or to donate, visit www.parkinsonsuperwalk.ca.
