No matter your age, the phrase “sweet sixteen” tends to bring up a myriad of thoughts and emotions: excitement, fun, food, friends, joy, cars, wonder, cake, and hope. These are just a few of the words one might ponder when thinking about the 2024 Speedy PD Race for Parkinson’s Disease. This year brings us a great new Presenting Sponsor, Little Apple Cars. We are thrilled to have them cruise on the inside lane to help us achieve some new goals. Our planning committee and sponsors plan to outpace our previous benchmarks of 806 participants (2023) and $ 81,786, and we need YOU to help us, too! After all, it’s always the right time for a party and a Sweet 16 party is even better! 

Speedy PD is Saturday, Aug. 24, at beautiful Tuttle Creek State Park, and offers a Half-Mile Memorial Walk/Run, 5K and 10K courses, which are all on flat and paved roads. Participants will receive encouragement and support throughout the courses from wonderful volunteers. An awesome party, including massages by Body First and great refreshments to rehydrate and restore calories, awaits participants at the finish line. This year also brings fun new experiences of face painting and a photo opportunity with a “speedy” car courtesy of Little Apple Cars and J & C Imaging.

As with most activities the Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program does, you will be able to have fun and learn more about our local community partners and Parkinson’s. Stormont Vail will have staff available to answer questions about their services and the Rotary clubs will assist in sharing information about PD and the Parkinson’s Program.

Speedy PD is a unique community and fundraising event as it appeals to a wide variety of people. These include individuals affected by PD, their care partners, family and friends, those who have lost someone to PD, seasoned and novice walkers/runners, businesses, organizations, and volunteers. It is the epitome of a community event, and we are blessed by all that support it.

So how can you join this “Sweet 16” party? Register today for Speedy PD by visiting www.runspeedypd.org or stop by the Hospitality Desk to pick up a registration form. You may return your completed registration and payment to the box at Meadowlark’s Hospitality Desk or to Body First Wellness Center, 3615 Claflin Rd., Manhattan, Kan.

If you are unable to participate in the race and party, but would still like to support Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program, you can donate! Checks should be written to “Meadowlark Foundation” with “Speedy PD Donation” in the memo line. Leave the check with the hospitality staff for Becky Fitzgerald, Development Director. All donations received help Meadowlark Parkinson’s Program continue to provide free support to those affected by Parkinson’s (whether diagnosed or a care partner) at Meadowlark, in the greater Manhattan community, and neighboring counties. The program helps people learn and understand Parkinson’s, exercise to help combat the physical and emotional symptoms, engage with others to ward off the depression and apathy symptoms of the disease, and most of all, to give hope and encourage those with PD and their family/care partners that they can live well with Parkinson’s.

The Half-Mile Memorial Walk/Run starts at 8 a.m. and the 5K/10K races start at 8:30 a.m. At 7:45 a.m. the VIPDs (Very Important People with Parkinson’s Disease) sing the national anthem. Immediately after the anthem, teams will be announced. Each registered participant receives a Speedy PD T-shirt (guaranteed until 8/14/24), a finishers medal, and access to the great post-race party! If you have questions about Speedy PD, please contact Michelle or Katie at (785) 323-3899 or email parkinson@meadowlark.org. We are looking forward to the best Sweet 16 party in race history!