The annual Peterborough Walk took place on May 23rd,2015. The Peterborough Chapter and this event have gone through many changes in years past, but the event continues to happen thanks to a group of core planners. The Peterborough Walk is the Chapter’s biggest fundraiser of the year and it brings awareness to the Peterborough community and surrounding areas, even as far as Lindsay and Barry’s Bay.
The Peterborough Walk began as a group of 20-50 people who gathered at a local rugby field to walk a couple of laps and connect with each other. These days, the Walk begins at City Hall and continues down the main street that they close for the event. The event is “more than a walk”, says one of the organizers, Emily Neuman, “it’s a fun day in the park with family. We have a barbeque, bouncy castles, prizes, and much more”. The organizers estimate that between those participating in the Walk, and people bringing their kids by for fun in the park, they have around 200 people throughout the day interacting with the event.
The closing of Main Street, as well as the event itself has increased awareness in this community. It’s a way to draw attention to the disease, even to people who are just wondering why the road is closed. In the first few years of the event, fundraisers would go door to door and explain what Huntington disease is. “Most people had no idea what it was back then. Now, people have more of a general understanding” says Emily.
The Peterborough Walk is a great opportunity to enjoy the day with your family and increase awareness for Huntington disease. As Emily said, “It’s more than just a fact sheet. People are connecting”. There are so many activities for the whole family in the park, including bean bag toss, hole in one golf challenge, basketball, dart games, a raffle, music and prizes for both kids and adults.
If you are interested in the 2016 Walk, please contact Amanda Manley at (705) 875-5049 or walk@hdpeterborough.org
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