Boost your wellness. Support Parkinson’s research. Invite your friends!
This is the 10th year that Marilyn Scutt and her family (read more about the family below) have done the 10,000 Kettlebells for Parkinson’s challenge which started out as a crazy idea to see if they could do 10,000 Kettlebell swings during the month of February. The vision is to have people all around the world improving their wellness and also supporting Parkinson’s research.
Challenge 1: Dedicate the month of February to improving your personal wellness – in whichever area you choose. Invite friends and family to participate. Share what you’re doing on your social media. Be sure to register on their website. You could win a $25 Amazon eGift Card.
Challenge 2: Make a donation to support Parkinson’s research at Royal University Hospital. Your family may also have a personal connection to Parkinson’s Disease. Research has shown how a range of wellness activities can improve quality of life for people with Parkinson’s.
The idea of doing 10,000 kettlebells in a one-month period is quite a physical challenge, but it is possible. And a project that raises awareness about Parkinson’s disease, and provides a direct opportunity for people to financially support Parkinson’s research, is definitely a winning solution.
So why did Dave and Richard spend a month doing 10,000 kettlebells? Because they could. Why did they do it for Parkinson’s research? Because of Marilyn.
Marilyn Scutt is Dave and Richard’s mother. After she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2006, she began looking for ways to support the fight against it. She makes and sells re-imagined greeting cards to raise funds. She organized a support group through Parkinson Society Saskatchewan. She entered a Parkinson Society Saskatchewan essay contest and won a trip to attend the World Parkinson’s Conference in Montreal. And, not least of all, in 2016 she inspired her family to start the 10,000 Kettlebells Challenge.
Even with Parkinson’s disease, Marilyn never wavered in her efforts to do whatever she can for others. Since the inaugural 2016 Kettlebell Challenge over $18,000 has been raised in addition to public awareness for Parkinson’s by showing participants that they can do more than they realize.
Spending a month focusing on any wellness activity was bound to help develop a habit of wellness. So it’s not just for doing kettlebells, or some other physical activity. Choose ANY wellness activity and challenge yourself to do it more deliberately and consistently!
The 10,000 Kettlebell Challenge continues on! To follow along with Richard and Dave’s challenge, read their blog. And, if you’re not sure you’re up for 10,000 kettlebells, don’t worry—there are LOTS of ways you can participate. Because you can.
You can always support the Dr. Ali Rajput Endowment for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Research at Royal University Hospital. To make a donation, please contact the RUH Foundation at 306.655.1984 or make your donation using the form above.
