The Cowichan Valley has a vibrant support group for people touched by Parkinson’s disease (PD), where everyone comes together to share and support each other. Members, including those with PD, as well as carepartners, meet at 1:00pm on the last Monday of the month in a downtown Duncan church. As many as 20 or more individuals gather to enjoy a cup of coffee while connecting with others on a similar journey in a positive, welcoming atmosphere. One member describes the group and the bonds of friendship formed as “invaluable.”
In addition to their monthly meeting, the support group gathers every Tuesday at the Cowichan Valley Sportsplex to walk the 660-metre rubberized fitness loop. Members socialize while exercising, taking the opportunity to vent, air their opinions, share experiences, ask questions, and perhaps, most importantly, laugh.
The group’s history is just as meaningful. After the original support group gradually faded away many years ago, it found new life in 2009 thanks to a phone call Annelies Massey received about starting a yoga program. What started as an idea to offer yoga classes for those with Parkinson’s soon brought people back together to a formal support group. Annelies, who lives with Parkinson’s herself, went on to facilitate the group until March 2015.
The group is now facilitated by Wendy Murray, who has been a long-time Parkinson Society BC supporter. Members describe the very positive attitude Wendy nurtures within the support group, mentioning her love of exercise and how she inspires everyone to do their best and be kind to themselves along the way.
One extraordinarily meaningful project Annelies started during her time as facilitator was a handmade quilt. She personally hand-dyed all of the individual fabric squares that make up the quilt. The quilt was then assembled by the Blackberry Port Quilters and auctioned off in support of Parkinson Society BC, raising $385.
“The varied colours and design of the quilt remind me of our group,” says a support group member. “While we are all individuals on our own journey with Parkinson’s, the joining of the squares symbolizes we are all in this journey together.”
Annelies now lives in long-term care alongside her brother, Paul, who also has Parkinson’s. While she is no longer leading the group, the friendships she helped build continue. Her legacy lives on in the quilt, in the funds it raised to support people living with Parkinson’s across BC, and most of all, in the community she helped bring together.