Since Kelly Jablonski and Branko Radmilovic started Just Giver in 2006, over $130,000 has been raised for Parkinson Society British Columbia and the Davis Phinney Foundation. Just Giver has also been the subject of two televised news features and 20 newspaper articles. In 2008, the pair launched a blog on their home page, where news about the team, Parkinson’s, and other stories of interest are posted. To visit the Just Giver blog CLICK HERE
For 2009, Just Giver will be further expanding its fund-raising goals, scope, and participation. This time, the tour will consist of nine stages. The first stage will be another 100-kilometer century loop in Surrey, with a maximum of 150 riders, called the "Bob Cameron Memorial SuperCycle". Having this first stage open to the general public allows anyone to get involved with our group. Last year, many people with Parkinson’s relished the challenge of completing 25, 50, 75, or 100 kilometers, and told us that their achievements at the SuperCycle inspired them to further incorporate exercise into their lives. Afterwards, an elite group of at least six riders (including Kelly and Branko) will continue on, riding 1,055 kilometers from Langley to Osoyoos, and then up to Kamloops and back to Vancouver in eight additional days. This new itinerary lets us visit six different Parkinson’s support groups along the way while passing through some larger cities. Keeping with previous years, any funds raised within Canada will be donated to Parkinson Society British Columbia, with all U.S. based funds going back to the Davis Phinney Foundation.
Just Giver 2009 Stages
Stage #1 July 19 - SuperCycle as well as Langley to Hope: 115km Stage #2 July 20 - 135km - Hope to Princeton Stage #3 July 21- 115km - Princeton to Osoyoos Stage #4 July 22 - 125km - Osoyoos to Kelowna Stage #5 July 23 - 115km - Kelowna to Salmon Arm Stage #6 July 24 - 110km - Salmon Arm to Kamloops Stage #7 July 25 - 85km - Kamloops to Merritt Stage #8 July 26 - 121km - Merritt to Hope Stage #9 July 27 - 125km - Hope to Vancouver
It is estimated the that there are approximately 1.6 million Parkinson sufferers in North America and this number is expected to double as the baby boomer generation ages.
