The Muskoka Trek for Tourette will take place on Sunday, March 29th at the Gravenhurst YMCA starting at 1pm. In its seventh year, the Trek for Tourette is a 5km walk-a-thon to raise awareness and raise money for Tourette Canada. “Last year we had 45 ‘trekkers’ and we raised almost $4000,” says event organizer Shawn Forth, Muskoka TS Resource Unit leader. This year he’s hoping for over 50 trekkers, and to match or better last year’s funds raised. The Trek will be going ahead rain or shine (or snow or sleet). “The month of March was chosen for the Trek because the weather’s unpredictable just like Tourette’s,” states Forth.
Any community members interested in trekking are asked to register online at www.tourette.ca/trekfortourette
Pledges can be made online, or a pledge sheet can be downloaded from the website. Forth explains, “The green rain boot in the Trek’s logo reflects the unpredictability of the weather that Trekkers could be walking in.” Over 2000 individuals participated in 20 Treks across Canada in 2014, and over $150 000 was raised to support Tourette Canada’s mission of education and awareness of the neurological disorder. Tourette Syndrome is characterized by involuntary tics and twitches. There is currently no cure for the disorder. For more information on the Trek, please contact Shawn Forth (Muskoka TS Resource Unit leader) at 705-645-2530.
The Muskoka Tourette Syndrome Support Group meets the first Tuesday of the month at Muskoka Falls P.S. in Bracebridge. The next meeting is Tuesday, April 7 th at 7:00pm. Tourette Canada is a national voluntary organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those with or affected by Tourette Syndrome through programs of: education, advocacy, self-help and the promotion of research