Sweating in his North Saanich home, Andy Robinson spends roughly 3.5 hours a week zooming a bike around hillsides around the world.

He takes the virtual rides alongside friends around the globe who have a couple of things in common: each lives with Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 and is looking to stave off progression of the complex brain condition with exercise. The Zwifters Against Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 virtual cycling group is just one source of motivation and camaraderie for Robinson, who is among about 3,000 Islanders 乌鸦传媒� and 110,000 Canadians 乌鸦传媒� who live with the progressive neurodegenerative disorder. 

Enjoying his late 50s, Robinson was slowly sliding into retirement mode a decade ago, taking contract work and slowing down on the work side of things when something physically changed.

His gait changed. He had a tight shoulder and a tremor appeared.

Robinson already had an inkling in the back of his mind that Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 乌鸦传媒渨as definitely an option乌鸦传媒� even as he made a doctor乌鸦传媒檚 appointment.

The GP sent him to a neurologist who confirmed that fledgling thought was fact.

乌鸦传媒淚t wasn乌鸦传媒檛 actually as big a shock as I thought it would be,乌鸦传媒� Robinson recalled.

Some people deny, deny, and deny some more when faced with the diagnosis.

乌鸦传媒淚t happened fairly quickly for me.乌鸦传媒�

Parkinson's affects the central nervous system, causing symptoms such as tremors and stiffness as well as non-motor symptoms including sleep problems and depression. The disease is caused by the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial for coordinating movement. 

While there's no cure, treatments can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. 

乌鸦传媒淚nitially, it doesn乌鸦传媒檛 progress all that quickly for the first few years. I had some symptoms, but it wasn乌鸦传媒檛 affecting my life as much,乌鸦传媒� Robinson said.

Balance is an issue, and he had to give up sailing in recent years, but things such as cycling 乌鸦传媒� in the real world as well as virtually 乌鸦传媒� remain activity options. And activity is critical for managing symptoms.

Referred by his neurologist, he took on a leadership role, serving as chairman of what was then called HeadWay before its merger with the Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 Wellness Project.

While every individual乌鸦传媒檚 journey is different, PWP in Victoria affords a place to hang out with people who face similar challenges. The organization focuses on activities proven to slow the progression of symptoms for some people.

They乌鸦传媒檙e tailored to the demographic, with flexibility for the diversity of impacted clientele. One classroom is covered with a foam floor in order to specifically practice falling, as well as working on core strength. Robinson乌鸦传媒檚 a fan of the Rock Steady Boxing. He figures keeping active has helped his symptoms, and there乌鸦传媒檚 no evidence for the alternative.

Anecdotally, there are active folks who haven乌鸦传媒檛 gotten worse year-over-year in what is generally a progressive disease.

乌鸦传媒淵ou only have an experiment of one, so you don乌鸦传媒檛 know what would happen if you didn乌鸦传媒檛 do it,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 definitely getting worse, my balance is getting worse, but I think I would have gone more quickly if I hadn乌鸦传媒檛 remained as active as I have.乌鸦传媒�

Beyond the physical challenges, Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 can evoke emotional and mental health considerations that are equally important to address.

乌鸦传媒淒epression and apathy are quite common symptoms of Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚,乌鸦传媒� Robinson said. The Wellness Project offers counselling services, but also the very casual comfort of a central lounge, laid out living room style.

乌鸦传媒淚f you just go to the classes and leave, you don乌鸦传媒檛 make any connections with people. This way you make connections,乌鸦传媒� Robinson noted. 乌鸦传媒淟oneliness is a big issue for seniors in normal times, it乌鸦传媒檚 even more important with Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚 because it乌鸦传媒檚 hard to do things on your own.乌鸦传媒�

The camaraderie is also diverse, with folks from all walks of life utilizing the services. While donations are welcome 乌鸦传媒� those and grants are how the organization is entirely funded 乌鸦传媒� PWP doesn乌鸦传媒檛 charge for services, providing an even playing field.

With Parkinson's Awareness Month (April) now in the rearview mirror, Robinson worries about those who may not know there are resources available ().

乌鸦传媒淚 still think there are people, even with Parkinson乌鸦传媒檚, in Victoria who don乌鸦传媒檛 know about us, because there are people who are quite isolated, I think.乌鸦传媒�