tHE 2026 wALK in Pictures - nO oNE WALKS ALONE!

The 2026 Walk for a Cure - No One Walks Alone!

The 2026 Walk presented by - OhioHealth, The Savings Bank, The Wellman Family & the Riffle/Roush Families

THANK YOU to our community of leaders, sponsors, the very special and gifted members of the Parkinson’s Walk for a Cure advisory board/steering committee, and each of our volunteer team members who so graciously ensure the planning, setup, and see the event through to its completion of the event for the past 15 years. Your amazing commitment and selfless service to others is unparalleled! 

This year as a special gift from our advisory board members, it was a distinct honor and privilege to welcome Brian Stewart’s representative and Circleville’s Mayor Michelle Blanton. 

Representative Brian Stewart couldn't attend but his administrative assistant (JT - who we've worked with in the past) presented special accommodation honoring the work completed over the past 15 years of service to our great community. We would like to say, "Thank you" to Representative Stewart for all the work done for the people of his district but especially his role in establishing the Ohio Parkinson's Registry which allows the medical community to better track the prevalence of Parkinson's disease with our state. Secondly, his involvement and multiple appearances in presenting the “Champion” awards both past and present. Thank you to Representative Stewart and your team! JT, it was an honor and distinct privilege to meet you!

We are especially grateful for Mayor Blanton’s gracious work in the walk as she has made yearly proclamations of April being "Parkinson's Awareness month". This year was very special by naming April 25, 2026, our day, honoring the work completed within our wonderful community.

We are grateful and appreciative of all her work and support in increasing awareness of PD within our community. Thank you Mayor Michelle Blanton!

We would also like to extend a huge thanks to the other leaders within our community (i.e., City Council, Special Committees and the City Services Department leaders and staff) for all they have contributed. We greatly appreciate what you have done in making this vision possible. 

We also need to thank Alexis Conrad, Steven Collins and board members at the Pickaway County Community Foundation, (PCCF) for their commitment and expertise in managing and maintaining the local Parkinson’s fund. 

We thank Alexis and Steve for fielding our questions with integrity, character and patience! They provide a critical segment for obtaining devices and services (e.g., devices to ensure quality of life and symptom control, in-person exercise classes, caregiver support) to local families seeking to maintain quality of life for their loved ones as the search for a cure continues. Their on-going commitment to Pickaway County is amazing!

We greatly appreciate our partnership with the Great Lakes Chapter Parkinson Foundation’s staff for their steadfast support, and the participation of an incredibly talented event speaker, advocate and friend - Mr. Dan Shotwell. Your personal commitment and contribution to others through your work at the Great Lakes Parkinson Foundation, your leadership, and selfless service are inspiring to everyone!

We would also like to thank our 2025 champion, Peggy Hubbell, for her commitment to creating and leading the caregiver support program which thrives on the 3rd Monday of every month. 

We salute each of our extended families with a loved one experiencing life with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Each of them is unique for the work they are doing / have done outside and within the PD community. They are people (i.e., teachers, engineers, farmers, etc.) known for their integrity and character. PD has no biases and no boundaries. Each is fighting to not let PD define them. We honor and recognize them as part of our family.   

It is with great humbleness and immeasurable gratitude that we accept and share this recognition on behalf of everyone mentioned above who has made this vision a reality! It is an entire community, and an extended family of involved people experiencing a loved one with PD who have served selflessly beside us to make this possible. It is each of you as part of our wonderful community that make this event the success it has been. 

“A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. "Margaret Mead" Our community is living proof of that! From the time the walk started to the present day, we have experienced community support has changed the lives of families with loved ones experiencing life with Parkinson's disease (PD) for the better through service to others. There is an increased awareness of the prevalence of PD across the world. Research is now collaborative as new is shared. Techniques are now being found to ensure quality of life for multiple diseases within the neurological category and more will continue to be discovered, tested and integrated. The PD research community continues diligently to find a cure that can't come soon enough!

The 2026 Parkinson’s Walk for a Cure was held at Mary Virginia Crites-Hannan Park on the last Saturday in April. This year’s record-breaking amount of approximately $32,500 will be divided equally between supporting the research in search of a cure (i.e., the national Parkinson Foundation) and the local fund that continues to assist local families experiencing PD, (i.e., the Parkinson fund managed by the Pickaway County Community Foundation - PCCF). 

We continue expressing our gratefulness to all of you through our actions. We are dedicated to honoring our fathers and your love-ones through our life mission of service with a vision of focused advocacy for each of our extended families experiencing life with Parkinson’s disease until our work is done.  

Steve and Teresa Riffle