Running for a good reason EDITORIAL STAFF The Guardian

The second annual Luke McIver Relay for Parkinson’s will take place on Saturday, Aug. 8, and this year it will consist of many runners.
In August 2008, the young man from Kinkora ran 250 kilometres in four days.
He harnessed his energy, enthusiasm and love of running for the cause of Parkinson’s, as all of the money raised was donated to this cause. He accomplished his run in honour of his grandmother, who is living with Parkinson’s, and his grandfather, who died with the disease.
Maureen Larkin, president of the Charlottetown support group, says they plan to repeat the ‘Tip to Tip Run’ in a different format this year.
“We want to get more people involved and use the event not only to raise funds, but also awareness of the situation of Parkinson’s in P.E.I.,”  she said.
Participants will enter the Relay for Parkinson’s as a team, which will consist of a minimum of six people. The route, from Souris to Tignish, will be divided into 20-km legs.
Teams will run and/or walk one leg of the relay. Each member of the team may run or walk the entire 20 kms, or they may divide it up. Either way, every bit of the route from Souris to Tignish will be ran or walked by a participant.
The planning committee will identify 10 or 12 starting points and all the teams will start at the same time.
Larkin said they plan to have a minimum of 20 teams. 
McIver himself plans to enter a team, but he will also join some of the other teams during the day. All the runners/walkers will be invited to celebrate the event with a barbecue in Charlottetown at the end of the day.
Participants are asked to set a goal of $750 per team. This means each member of the team will raise a minimum of $125. There is no registration fee and each participant will receive a free T-shirt. There will also be prizes for various goals reached, such as the best time, the most money raised, etc.
Approximately 8,400 people across the Maritimes have Parkinson’s.
Of all the neurological diseases, Parkinson’s disease has the highest incidence.
More people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease than ALS, MS, MD, AIDS, leukemia, and ovarian cancer combined.
To participate in the relay people must register their team at the Parkinson’s office located at the Volunteer Resource Centre, 81 Prince St., 8:30-4
p.m. Pledge sheets can be picked up there or from any member of the planning team.