CEDARTOWN — For more than three years, Jennifer Hulsey’s husband felt bad: his muscles hurt, his joints ached and he was always tired.
He went to doctor after doctor and took test after test, but no one pinpointed what was making Johnny sick. Maybe it was his heart, or maybe arthritis, but the final answer was always the same: “We can’t find anything wrong.”
And then one day, he noticed he was shaking.
After another trip to the doctor’s office, the 43-year-old father of three was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
For a disease more commonly associated with older individuals, the diagnosis came as a shock to the Hulsey family.
Parkinson’s is a chronic progressive neurological disease that affects a small area of nerve cells in the brain. These cells normally make chemicals that transmit signals between areas in the brain that coordinate smooth and balanced muscle movement. Parkinson’s disease causes these nerve cells to die, and as a result, body movements are affected.
The Hulseys are members of a support group in Rome called Northwest Georgia Parkinson’s Disease Association.
And through the encouragement and backing from the support group, the Hulseys are trying to bring awareness and education to Cedartown through a community-based Parkinson’s Walk for Hope.
“A lot of people aren’t educated about Parkinson’s, especially people who are young. We feel there are other people going through this, and we want to educate people and help them find the help and support they need,” Jennifer Hulsey said.
The Hulseys said the main focus of the walk is to help others.
“Johnny and I are doing this for others, not ourselves. Our entire support group has worked hard for so many years to raise awareness. And they have done an outstanding job,” Jennifer Hulsey said.
The Hulseys hope the walk, which will take place April 19 in downtown Cedartown, will draw a lot of community participants. They have set a goal of raising $10,000 through the walk.
“The city of Cedartown has been very supportive in letting us do this, and we’re hoping for a good turnout. We want anybody that wants to, to come and walk, especially people who have Parkinson’s or people who may know someone who has it,” Hulsey said. “We want at least 1,000 people to come and walk with us.”
There is a $10 registration fee to help fund the Northwest Georgia Parkinson’s Disease Association, so they, in turn, can help other support groups in the area.
“We want people to feel like they can make a difference without giving up a lot of money,” Jennifer Hulsey said.
Residents wishing to register can do so online at www.gaparkinsons.org or at Merle Norman on Main Street in Cedartown. People who pay the registration fee of $10 before April 1 will receive a free T-shirt.
For more information about how to register, call Jennifer Hulsey at 770-546-0286. For more information about NWGA Parkinson’s Disease Association, call James Trusell, chief volunteer officer, at 706-413-3264.
