Spinning Wheels Bike Tour Stops in Kindersley!
By Kevin Martin
A stop in Kindersley on July 19th, 2022 for the Spinning Wheels tour brought warm sunshine and blue skies. It was day #25 for the Cross Canada Parkinson’s Journey participants. Main riders Jim Edmond and Steve Iseman as well as part-time/support riders Mike Loghrin and his wife Darlene have logged many kilometres with more to go!
The group started in Victoria, B.C. and are biking to Newfoundland to bring awareness and raise funds for Parkinson’s research with the hopes of finding a cure. It’s a tall order but definitely doable!
Kindersley had always been their plans to stop as Jim has relatives here. A bbq and silent auction fundraiser was hosted at the Kindersley & District Plains Museum.
This awareness is extremely crucial as 9 in 10 people who live with some form of Parkinson’s disease suffer in silence and are not aware of the support available in their community. At this time there is no known cure or bio-markers to aid detection, in fact you can have Parkinson’s for 10 years before it is detected. Little is known as to how it is triggered, although in some families, it can be heredity.
Parkinson’s onset starts when the brain’s ability to produce the cells which produce the chemical dopamine, die prematurely. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter the body needs for many of its functions; including muscular control as well as movement and balance impairment, memory, concentration, and motivation. You might say that dopamine is like electricity to power an electric car: without it, the lights dim and the wheels slow down or stop.
If you have any form of Parkinson’s, it’s not a great idea to slow down or even discontinue regular physical activity. Jim said that “cycling is an awesome way to get the body to work together.” Human beings naturally need to exercise and keep in shape. That’s just how we are built. Believe it or not, boxing is another exercise you wouldn’t associate with Parkinson’s, but it actually has benefits!
So what things has the group encountered on their travels? Well, wildlife has been curious when the they cycles by and luckily no bad encounters. Jim rides a recumbent bike or as Steve calls it “a couch on wheels!” It allows for easier pedalling from a less ridged sitting up position to a more laid back position. All the cyclists have tall flags on their bikes for increased visibility and safety.
Starting on the 19th, the group headed towards the Saskatchewan Landing, Swift Current, Moose Jaw, and Regina. Winnipeg is a stop where they are hoping to get some new bicycle tires as most bike stores so far have been unable to supply them; new tires will certainly come in handy when they go through Northern Ontario towards Thunder Bay. When you average travelling 125 kms per day, tires don’t last long!
Darlene drives the motorhome and her husband Mike is a support biker and drone operator. The drone comes in handy when going through heavily wooded sections so they can spot any potential wildlife hazards and just keep an eye on Jim and Steve if they get too far ahead.
This bike ride across our great country is a wonderful way to motivate people who may be feeling down and don’t know where to turn for help. Steve said that “we want to inspire people to take positive action and to seek help if they need”. If they can do it, I can to!
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