They're going to shake, rattle and roll their way down the highway to raise money for Parkinson's Disease.
A group of volunteers in St. Gregor is putting together the first annual Shake, Rattle and Roll Motorcycle Rally for Parkinson's Disease on June 25 at St. Gregor.
The name, noted organizer Wanda Kiefer, is an extension of the sense of humour those with the disease use to deal with its effects.
Her husband John has been dealing with the disease for about five years now, and was diagnosed at the young age of 40.
That was part of how Wanda came up with the idea to put on this rally.
"We want to raise awareness that it's not a senior citizens' disease. Young people get it, too," she said.
According to the Parkinson Society of Saskatchewan, which will benefit from the Shake, Rattle and Roll Rally, Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative disease.
Movement is normally controlled by dopamine, a chemical that carries signals between the nerves in the brain. When cells that normally produce dopamine die, the symptoms of Parkinson's appear.
Symptoms of the disease can include tremors, slowness and stiffness, impaired balance, rigidity of the muscles, fatigue, soft speech, problems with handwriting, stooped posture, constipation and sleep disturbances.
Currently there is no cure. You can live with Parkinson's for years. The symptoms are treated with medication, surgery or other therapies.
Wanda came up with the idea for this rally last year, but there was simply no good time to host it in 2010. So she set her sights on 2011, and after getting Tony and Natalie Koski of Saskatoon on board, it was a go.
Tony, originally from LeRoy, has had Parkinson's Disease for the past 13 years, and he and his wife are a part of a support group for young people with the disease that the Kiefers also belong to. Both Tony and John were diagnosed at around the age of 40.
As the Koskis are also involved with motorcycles, it took them "about half a second," Tony said, to get on board with this fundraiser when the Kiefers approached them in February.
Others quickly hopped on board as well.
They just started talking about holding this event, Wanda noted, and the phone started to ring with different people offering to help.
"We haven't had to ask too many people for help," she said. It's all been offered.
Their committee now consists of the Kiefers, the Koskis, Jeff and Kristen Kunz, Doug and Denise Hogemann, Ralph and Linda Kiefer, Ed and Sandy Wiesner, and Robert and Tracy Mollenbeck.
Some are involved because they ride motorcyles. Some because they are connected to someone with Parkinsons. Others are involved just because they like raising funds for causes. And some for all three reasons.
This rally, Wanda said, is definitely going to be the first of many. The organizing committee is determined that it be a success.
"It's going to put St. Gregor on the map,"she stated.
St. Gregor is already a community known locally as one that puts on extremely successful fundraisers. Events in the past have sold out quickly and raised thousands of dollars for local charities and causes.
How much are they hoping to raise for the Parkinson Society of Saskatchewan?
"One million dollars," Tony deadpanned. "Shoot high," he smiled.
Their goal is not just about the money. It's about raising awareness and simply ensuring that everyone has a good time.
"Everything we make is a bonus," Wanda said. "We just want people to go home wanting to come back next year."
They are hoping for at least 100 riders taking part in the rally, as well as a large portion of the public to attend the rally kick off breakfast and the dance afterwards, both at St. Gregor Hall.
It really will depend on the weather, Tony feels.
"If it's a nice day, we'll get over 100 bikers," he said. If it's not, there are always some die-hard bikers who will come out, no matter the conditions.
John's family will be among those attending. Five out of his six brothers plan to ride in the rally, one coming all the way from Prince George to take part. His sister from Humboldt also plans to ride, Kiefer said, and John's children, Drayton and Danica, will likely hop on with their uncles for a ride.
A crew is also coming from Saskatoon, Koski reported.
The ride will begin in St. Gregor at 11 a.m. Riders will head out to Watson, Dafoe, hit Lanigan for lunch, then on to Guernsey, Watrous, Young, and finally back to Humboldt on Hwys. 2 and 5, before ending up back at St. Gregor.
The day will wrap up with a dance with the Barley Boys.
What do John and Tony hope people will know about Parkinson's because of this rally?
"That it's life-altering, not life-ending," Tony said. "That it's a struggle some days, and some days, not."
The disease, he said, has made him appreciate simple things more - like picking something up and putting it where you want it, or cutting a sandwich, or eating soup.
"A cup of soup got a whole new meaning," he joked, showing the humour that has helped him deal with Parkinson's.
"You have to have a sense of humour," he said. Though he still works as a boiler operator in Saskatoon, thanks to some concessions made for him, after his retirement he figures he can find a job as a salt-shaker at a fast-food restaurant, he laughed.
John, a mechanic who works with his brother, Ralph, indicated that he wants people to know that more and more people their age are being diagnosed with Parkinson's. Their support group, launched just two months ago, has since grown from four couples to eight in a very short time.
"It's growing every time we have a meeting," Tony reported.
The rally, the organizers all promised, will definitely be a good time.
"We want everybody to come out and have a good time," Wanda said.
"If you want something shaken, not stirred, I'm your man," Tony added with a laugh.
Camping spaces will be available in town, they added.
"Bring your campers, tents and wallets," the committee advised.
There will be lots of great prizes up for silent auction, Wanda said.
"The business support has been overwhelming," she noted, adding that there is a huge variety of prizes, not just related to bikers.
