Unity Walk for Parkinson's Qld

JOIN Queensland Reds and Wallabies player, Jake Schatz, and former Australian butterfly champion living with a chronic brain disorder, Ian Findlay, for Parkinson's Queensland's fourth annual Unity Walk on Sunday, September 9 in Brisbane.

To commemorate the final day of Parkinson's Awareness Week (September 2 - 9, 2012), support the 16,200 Queenslanders living with Australia's second most common neurological disorder, by strolling from New Farm Park, along the Brisbane River, to Teneriffe and back, to raise community awareness and much-needed funds for Parkinson's disease.

Jake, who was named in the 30-man Wallabies squad last month, said it's a terrific way to spend Sunday morning supporting a great cause.

"The event will be jam-packed with live entertainment, a sausage sizzle, face painting and balloon art for the kids," he said.

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Ian Findlay, Australian butterfly champion in the early 1980s and a representative at the 1992 Pan Pacific Games, will be joined by his close-knit family to walk for the cause this week.

"People from all walks of life are encouraged to celebrate Parkinson's Awareness Week by joining the Parkinson's Queensland Unity Walk to support and honour those living with, or affected by Parkinson's," he said.

"This event is important as all funds raised will be invested into research and support services for those living with Parkinson's, their families and carers."

Ian held the Australian record for the 200 metre butterfly in 1983, and coached alongside Olympic and World Champion swim coach, Laurie Laurence when Duncan Armstrong clinched Gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

He is also a former Commonwealth Games Coach and Australian World Championship Team Coach. He was forced to surrender his career when diagnosed with Parkinson's, eight months after his first child was born.

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Unity Walk for Parkinson's Qld