North Hills residents bike 330 miles in Pedaling for Parkinson's fundraiser

A group of 10 hard-pedaling athletes, three of whom have Parkinson’s disease, bicycled more than 330 miles through unexpected detours, uphill trails and hurricane-like conditions, all to raise money and awareness of the disease.

The D.C. to D’Burgh, the Pedaling for Parkinson’s fundraiser began its six-day trek Aug. 29, raising more than $30,000 to benefit the Parkinson’s Foundation of Western Pennsylvania (PFWPA).

The money will go toward supporting and enhancing current exercise programs offered by the foundation and to funding future programming.

The journey began at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., according to event organizer Dick Thomson, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in early 2021. Their trek followed the Potomac River along the historical C&O Canal Towpath Trail for 184 miles to Cumberland, Md., where they picked up the Great Allegheny Passage for 150 more miles, ending at Point State Park.

Thomson, a former health club owner, was already familiar with the effects of Parkinson’s disease before his diagnosis. He was working at Oxford Athletic Club in Wexford, which held boxing and fitness classes for those with the disease.

Physical activity has been clinically proven to slow its progression. It was there that the Cranberry resident learned bike riding was particularly beneficial for those with Parkinson’s.

Already an avid cyclist, Thomson and some other gym co-workers decided to hold the bicycling trip in 2020, but the pandemic forced them to hold off on the idea, eventually rescheduling this year. Then, he found out he had the disease, which made the event even more meaningful.

The fundraiser’s beneficiary PFWPA provides important local programming and support for people with this condition.

Parkinson’s disease is an unpredictable, progressive, degenerative and disabling neurologic disorder with no cure — its prevalence is second only to Alzheimer’s disease. It is the fastest-growing neurological disorder in the world, according to the fundraiser’s website.

A range of symptoms occurs due to the loss of nerve cells in the brain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. There are approximately 12,000 persons living with Parkinson’s just in Western Pennsylvania, per the race website.

This makes the ride even more impressive for the Parkinson’s bikers. The riders averaged approximately 60 or so miles daily, with some unexpected detours due to trail closures along the way. They rode on various paths throughout West Virginia and Maryland, including to the famous Paw Paw Tunnel. The tunnel was closed, forcing them to take their bikes up a hillside.

Thomson, 72, said the journey would’ve been more of a challenge for the Parkinson’s riders, but their fellow bikers without the disease continuously stepped up to help.

The most notable detour had to be on the fourth day when they left Cumberland and set off on an uphill, 26-mile climb. And that’s when Hurricane Ida hit, Thomson said.

Their determination kept them going despite sheets of rain and wind gusts battling them the whole way.

Jim Steele, a fellow rider with Parkinson’s and an avid cyclist, said they were actually pedaling through water — and it was the cold that really got to him.

“That was more excitement than I wanted to have,” said Steele, a former pilot for both the U.S. Air Force and commercial airlines.

Thomson said he would see mudslides off to the side and it “became like white water rafting rather than riding a bicycle.”

They finally reached the day’s stop in Meyersdale, Pa., and continued on their ride daily until they reached Point State Park. A few additional bikers joined them toward the end of the journey.

Thomson said the daily challenges brought them closer together.

Most riders would consider quitting on such a tedious and long journey, especially through a rough storm. But Thomson said their cause motivated them.

“It takes a lot of courage to do this ride. But it takes a lot for a person with Parkinson’s to get out of bed in the morning,” he said. “We may have had a difficult time, but that’s just the way life is for Parkinson’s.”

He also said they did it for all their donors. Each rider was given a fundraiser goal of $250, with many well exceeding it. And donations keep coming in.

They are planning a ride for next year, hoping there will be even more Parkinson’s bikers joining them.

When they reached their destination, it was bittersweet.

“Everybody was really sort of sad when we got to Point State Park,” said Steele, 64, of Cranberry. He admitted he was pretty tired by the end. But by the next day, the bikers were commenting on how much they missed each other.

To donate or find out more about Parkinson’s and next year’s trip of “Pedaling Parkinson’s Outta Tahn,” visit dctodburgh.com.

Natalie Beneviat is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.