An unforgettable walk of resilience
March 2024 Good News
Richard with his younger brother, Bob
Retired couple Donna Connolly and Richard Wageman became involved in the Parkinson’s community after Richard’s brother, Bob, was diagnosed with the disease in 2013. He had developed a tremor in his hands, leading him to retire from his dental practice. “Bob has always been a model of health and energy, even swimming the length of Wood Lake on his 50th birthday,” says Richard. “This diagnosis came as a shock to our entire family.”
The family continues to be inspired by his relentless optimism through the years. “From the original diagnosis to this very day, Bob has never once lost his positive attitude or his faith,” Richard and Donna say. The Vancouver Island couple, who share a love for nature and travels, decided to combine their passion for hiking with their goal of supporting the Parkinson’s community and others like Bob, through participating in Parkinson SuperWalk.
On September 3rd, 2023, the couple flew out to Lisbon, Portugal. They were to start on the Camino de Santiago trail towards the city of Fatima and beyond, joining it with their SuperWalk. However, over a day after they landed, their plans were thrown into disarray before they started the hike. Richard fell into an unfortunate accident over an unseen piece of construction, and was left with a badly broken arm and stitches. They were advised to return home within a week to assess if he needed surgery.
With this new development, the couple were forced to make some adjustments to their trip. “We quickly began to focus on what we could do instead of what we couldn’t,” says Donna. They spent the next four days resting and enjoying Lisbon at an easy pace while forming new plans, eventually deciding to shorten their hike.
Richard and Donna finishing their hike
On September 9th, Donna and Richard finally set off on their walk. But rather than taking on the full trail from Lisbon to Fatima spanning over 150 kilometres, they hiked the first 6 kilometres of that trail. Next, they took a bus directly into Fatima, followed by a taxi that drove them back 9 kilometres, to the neighbourhood of Giesteira. From there, the couple walked the remaining 9 kilometres of the trail into the city, unfazed by a heavy shower of rain. “As every Camino walk is unique, we were grateful for this experience,” Donna says of their eventful trip.
Donna reflects on how their trip taught them more about dealing with the unexpected. “You cannot always control wildcards that come your way, but hopefully, you can choose how to respond.” This echoes what they have learned from supporting Bob through his journey with Parkinson’s. He chooses to focus on what he can do, over what he cannot. Currently, he is active in the independent seniors’ complex where he lives, often playing cribbage with friends and attending workshops.
Especially with the challenges faced, Donna and Richard are proud to have raised funds for Parkinson Society BC with their SuperWalk last year. They underscore the importance of family and community support for people with Parkinson’s. For those who are newly diagnosed, they encourage taking time to process and fully understand the disease.
“Ask your doctors on suggestions of what to read and find other people with Parkinson’s in your community or online who you can share with. Those experiencing this disease themselves or within their family are not alone.”