With the chance to raise funds for her charity of choice as part of Run Melbourne, Megan nominated Fight Parkinson’s. 

Hoping to raise $2,000 in the lead up to running the half marathon, she was elated to double her goal. 

“It was such an incredible experience doing the run, and I was blown away by the amount I ended up fundraising,” Megan said. 

“My dad, Greg, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2017. Prior to his diagnosis, I knew of the disease and associated it to shakes or tremors but had no understanding of the other effects it can have on a person. Whilst his progression has been (thankfully) a slow one, watching him come to terms with his body and mind changing has been tough. 

“Seeing him struggle with daily movements, be much more emotional and worry about his future has been challenging for all of us, especially him.” 

A mother to two young children, it’d been over a decade since Megan last ran a half marathon. 

Determined to do something to support the Parkinson’s community and eager to get back into running it was a win-win when she decided to tackle Run Melbourne. 

“I knew having the motivation of the donations would be a huge factor in helping me across the finish line,” she said. 

Recognising how tight many budgets are at the moment, she was astounded to see large donations added to her page. 

“Times are tough in this economy and I never expected people to donate. I asked people to spare a couple of dollars, if they could, but I had people donating all sorts of amounts, some over $100, and it was truly incredible,” Megan said. 

“I documented my whole journey on my socials and knowing I was raising money and awareness for Parkinson’s as well as challenging my 40-year-old self with something I wasn’t sure I could do, was truly so rewarding.” 

Megan hopes that one day there will be a cure for Parkinson’s, but until then she wants to ensure everyone impacted by this condition gets the support they need. 

“I hope that we can continue to spread awareness and help others understand the impact that Parkinson’s can have not only on the person diagnosed, but their loved ones as well. I hope the donations keep coming, so those behind the scenes can continue working on a cure and keep supporting those who need it most.”