In the years he has remaining, Hank Cummings believes it is important to do what he can to increase the awareness of Parkinson’s disease in Powell River.
Hank was diagnosed with the progressive disorder of the nervous system in the fall of 2004.
On Sunday, September 11, he participated in Parkinson Superwalk, the largest annual fundraising event for Parkinson Society Canada. He completed six laps at Timberlane Track and Sports Park.
“That’s about a mile and a half,” he said.
According to his wife Mary’s calculations, Hank raised $5,055, “but you can still donate until the end of the year,” she said.
Hank is also involved with the Parkinson’s support group in Powell River, although he did not want to attend at first. The group has been in existence for about 25 years.
He said he thinks there are, unofficially, about 40 people with Parkinson’s in Powell River and, on average, 15 will turnout for a support group meeting.
“There’s lots of people who don’t want to come, or come sporadically,” said Mary. “Some people just aren’t joiners.”
According to Hank, he and Mary knew something was wrong with him 12 years ago when he started to take falls while walking and was losing his appetite.
“The exercises I do and the medication I take holds it back a bit, but despite all that it’s still progressing,” said Hank. “It will get me in the end. For some reason, I’ve accepted it, whereas the next person who has the same thing is devastated.”
As a retired nurse, Mary said she will often look at their circumstances from that point of view.
“When I think of Parkinson’s, I think of the people I’ve dealt with at the end of their life, so it was kind of a shock for me,” she said. “But, by the same token, you know you’re going to be okay for few years.”
Married for 56 years, they deal with Hank’s disease together. Mary said that while she and Hank are doing okay so far, things are just starting to get worse now.
“He quit driving, so I’ve become the taxi driver,” she said. “He gave up his drivers’ licence when he was 81. He’ll be 83 in November.”
According to Hank, it was kind of hard to give up his licence, but he balanced the decision out with what could go wrong.
“It was because of the reaction of my right leg,” he said. “I can’t control it to use the brake and accelerator. I can cause an accident pretty easily.”
Mary said Hank’s disorder keeps the couple busy like a full-time job and some days it can be almost too much.
“Exercise is probably the best medication and the cheapest medication, so I do exercises,” he said. “I get out on the track four times a week. I go to the fitness studio three times a week. If I can keep that going and keep my medication and get lots of loving from my wife, I’ve got it made.”
