Charlottetown- Cavendish
Distance: 51.4 km
June lifted her bike into her truck and handed us 50 dollars, “This week is our 50th wedding anniversary. My ninety-year
-old mother gave this to me and asked me to do something wild with it.” We didn’t want to say goodbye to this lovely lady.
An hour ago, we stopped by Dalvay by the Sea, a hotel at PEI National Park, to use their washroom. Two ladies eating at the restaurant of the hotel recognized us,”Are you guys riding across Canada for parkinson’s disease? We learned about your story on Monday’s radio.” Happily surprised, we asked their names and their connections with parkinson’s. Turned out that June and Lynn didn’t have any family and friends who have parkinson’s, but they were inspired by what we are doing.
Five minutes later, we got a new rider and a photographer on the road: June, 70 years old, pedaling with her Birkenstock clogs, smile on her face; and her friend Lynn driving ahead to take pictures and videos, cheering for us.
Joanne and Bill were our second encounter of the day. Noticing the words on our jerseys “Spinning Wheels Relay to End Parkinson’s”, they came to us, “Thank you for doing this!” Turned our that the couple have two close friends with parkinson’s. The disease takes a toll on their friends’ body and mind. For years, the couple has been encouraging their friends to get out of the house and do sports together. They love and care about their friends deeply, but they don’t know what they can do to help their friends.
Joanne asked, “Is there anything else we can do to help them?”
“Tell them I’m here with you, we are facing the disease together.”
Behind his sunglasses, something is melting in Bill’s eyes.
On this trip, we aim to raise awareness of parkinson’s, to inspire people to exercise, and to connect them with community. At the same time, I’m constantly touched by the people I meet on the road, by their words, their actions, and their spirit. They inspire us, encourage us, and teach us lessons in life.
