Thirty people living with Parkinson’s disease and their families traveled through North Chungcheong and Daejeon on November 15, passing through various weather and terrain conditions.
The Korea Parkinson’s Hope Alliance concluded its fourth annual Hope Walking event from November 13 to 15, according to MEDI:GATE NEWS. Operating under the slogan “Walk together, share together, back to daily life,” the program brought together 46 participants, including 30 patients, nine family members, and seven volunteers, MEDI:GATE NEWS reported.
Eighty-eight percent of the participants were older patients aged 60 and above alongside their caregiving families. The group finished the itinerary without safety incidents or dropouts, building on previous walks held in Cheongyang, Danyang, and Daecheongho.
Additional reporting by MEDI:GATE NEWS noted a roster of 50 participants for the same event, consisting of 32 patients, nine family members, and nine volunteers. The itinerary used the Daejeon Dong-gu Youth Nature Training Center as its central base camp.
On the opening day, participants walked the barrier-free path at Cheonnamro while viewing a busking performance. Wheelchairs and walking aids supported those with mobility challenges, with volunteers and family members matching their pace.
Rain on the second day and slipping hazards on the third prompted organizers to move all outdoor activities indoors to the Daejeon training center.
A participant living with Parkinson’s for 14 years led an indoor pickleball session during the weather disruption, bringing specialized equipment for a peer-led sports experience. Additional structured movement sessions focused on sit-to-stands and wall-supported balance exercises with backing from the Korean Movement Disorder Society.
Participants also gathered for traditional Korean yut-nori games and an evening sing-along session featuring patient caregiver and volunteer Lee Su-jong on the acoustic guitar.
During the final morning’s closing ceremony and self-evaluation, a patient shared a self-developed method for tracking medication schedules and symptom shifts to discuss more effectively with clinical teams.
Organizers emphasized that the event relied entirely on collaborative planning, recruitment, and safety management by patients, families, and volunteers, aided by Daejeon’s Dong-gu District Office and the Daejeon Dong-gu Beautiful Welfare Center.
“Although it was regrettable that we had to stop outdoor activities due to rain, we spent a closer and more meaningful time than ever playing yut-nori indoors and sharing our caregiving know-how and hearts.”
