Track Roger Across Michigan!
- Thursday, May 2: Stay overnight in Sault Ste Marie
- Friday, May 3: Sault Ste Marie to corner of Mackinaw Trail Rd & Dixie Highway Rd-
- 37 miles - Saturday, May 4: Mackinaw trail & Dixie highway to Pellston Lodge, Pellston, MI – 33 miles
- Sunday, May 5: Pellston Lodge to Boyne Mountain Resort, Boyne Falls, MI – 35 miles
- Monday, May 6: Boyne Falls to Kalkaska Grananada Inn, Kalkaska, MI – 35 miles
- Tuesday, May 7: Kalkaska to Cadillac – 39 miles
- Wednesday, May 8: Cadillac to Big Rapids Quality Inn – 41 miles
- Thursday, May 9: Big Rapids to Rockford – 36 miles
- Friday, May 10: Rockford to Yankee Springs area – 34 miles
- Saturday, May 11: Yankee Springs area to Portage Quality Inn –35 miles
- Sunday, May 12: Portage to Finish – 35 miles
Upcoming Events
Help cheer on our Champions! Support Parkinson's research by attending one a PDF Champions event or cheering them on as they run, golf and walk for Parkinson's. Browse these featured upcoming events, and search our website calendar for additional listings
Winemaker Runs Across Michigan in Early May
Roger Bonga, of Grand Rapids, MI, is an avid athlete and ultrarunner always looking to put himself to the physical test. His latest endeavor: run across the state of Michigan for Parkinson’s research. The local winemaker will fulfill a longtime goal when he runs more than 350 miles this May to benefit PDF in honor of his late grandmother who lived with Parkinson’s disease.
“I remember how my grandmother struggled with Parkinson’s disease. I hope that my run will raise more awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research, ” says Mr. Bonga on his motivation.
To help reach his $5,000 fundraising goal, he also hosted a celebratory kick-off fundraiser this April at his Cascade Winery, which featured raffles, a silent auction, food and children’s activities.
Mr. Bonga will begin his run at the Upper Peninsula in Sault Ste. Marie on Friday, May 3 and run more than 30 miles a day for 10 days until reaching the Indiana border.
Visit Roger’s Fundraising Page
Follow Roger’s journey across the state below.
Student Hosts "Cones for a Cure"
Noah Hartsock of Concord, NC is scooping up ice cream to help find a cure for Parkinson’s during the month of March.
Mr. Hartsock, 18, is hosting “Cones for a Cure” at his Gray Stone Day School in Misenheimer, NC in honor of his grandfather, who has been living with Parkinson’s for more than five years. He also hosted a schoolwide Parkinson's awareness presentation to educate others about the disease.
Since March 4, he has sold more than 100 ice cream cones to students during his lunch periods. He worked with local grocery stores to secure donations of ice cream in a variety of flavors. The fundraiser has been a hit. Even students without a sweet tooth have donated to his cause to help him reach his $500 fundraising goal.
“The ramifications of Parkinson’s disease have really touched Noah’s life. Watching his grandfather and grandmother cope with the effects of Parkinson’s has driven him to help others so that one day they will not have to suffer with Parkinson’s disease,” remarks his mother, Kim Hartsock.
Visit Noah’s Fundraising Page
