Chelsea Rae-Arthur is a Toronto-based flight attendant participating in Parkinson SuperWalk for the fourth time in as many years. Despite her Toronto address, the funds she raises this year will be channeled directly to British Columbia, where she grew up and where her family resides. Chelsea's inspiration to walk comes from her grandfather, David, who lived with Parkinson’s disease (PD) for over thirty years and who passed away in June. She signed up for her first walk when her grandfather’s condition was particularly difficult – he was no longer responding to medication and was unable to walk or talk. Chelsea explains, "signing up and participating in this event was my way of showing him how much I care, how important he was to me and my dedication to helping him and my grandma as well as many other families living with PD. Now that my Papa is gone, I will continue to do this in memory of his legacy."
As a flight attendant, Chelsea frequently flies between Toronto to Mexico and the Caribbean – all the vacation hotspots! She leads a busy life, and social media has been her main tool for helping her reach her fundraising goals over the years. She has a Facebook page dedicated to her SuperWalk efforts where her network can learn about the disease and make donations. This page helps her build awareness, regardless of where she is. Her advice for other walkers? "Never give up! There have been times where I have looked at my goal, and then looked at how much I have raised and have not been happy with where I stood, but I kept going! I posted videos, and kept my friends and family in the loop at all times on my progress. Anything is possible when you put your mind to it!"
Her motivation to participate in SuperWalk year after year comes through a desire to build awareness and contribute to finding a cure for Parkinson's. "I hope no family or friend will ever have to face this, but if they do my advice would be to keep your loved ones close. They will be there alongside you for the good, the bad, and the ugly. My grandma was my Papa's primary caregiver and she never gave up on him. She is a true hero, the strongest woman I know. The two of them have shown me what unconditional love is – ‘til death do us part."