Race/walk to be held in Uniontown on June 9
The 2007 Parkinson Awareness Memorial 5k Race & Walk in memory of Jerry Maher Sr. will be held on June 9 at the Uniontown Fireman’s Social Hall on Dunbar Street, Uniontown. The 5k race/walk will start at 9 a.m. There will be a one-half mile fun run for kids (under 12) that will follow. All kids will receive a prize.
Registration begins at 7 a.m. on the day of the race. There is cost of $17 if registered before May 27. After May 27, the registration fee is $22. The kids’ race is free.
There are registration forms available at the Uniontown Giant Eagle service desk. Anyone has any questions about sponsorship opportunities or would like a registration form contact is asked to call Jerry Maher Jr. at 412-629-9292 or e-mail him at jermaher@zoominternet.net.
There will be great raffle prizes after the race. All proceeds go to the Parkinson Chapter of Greater Pittsburgh.
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder. Tremors, rigidity, slow movement (bradykinesia), poor balance and difficulty walking (called parkinsonian gait) are characteristic primary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease afflicts 1 to 1.5 million people in the United States. The disorder occurs in all races but is somewhat more prevalent among Caucasians. Men are affected slightly more often than women.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease may appear at any age, but the average age of onset is 60. It is rare in people younger than 30 and risk increases with age.
It is estimated that 5 to 10 percent of patients experience symptoms before the age of 40.