The 2nd annual Pumpkin's for Parkinson's pumpkin growing contest is a fund raiser supporting the YMCA Parkinson Wellness Recovery and Rock Steady Boxing programs.
Over 50,000 new cases of Parkinson's are diagnosed each year in the United States and North Dakota is the 3rd state in the nation for per-capita incidence of Parkinson Disease. Our YMCA programs are helping our citizens who are living with Parkinson's fight back with proven exercise programming that can help delay symptoms and improve quality of life, while giving our participants hope and motivation to keep pushing ahead.
Funds will be applied to equipment, transportation assistance, training, financial scholarships and operating costs so that we can offer our program at little to no cost to our participants, helping to offset the debilitative medical costs and loss of wages they may experience.
Eight community teams are nourishing pumpkins that may grow to 500 or more pounds and are taking per-pound or one-time pledges. Our dedicated teams include: The White Hat Gang (Coach Brad Berry and Al Pearson); Team BUD (Dakota Sales); Greenberg Realty/Greenberg Farms; Black Gold Farms; Grand Forks Teachers; Alerus Financial; CHS Ag Services; and CPS Crop Production Services.
A weigh-in celebration will be held in early October at the YMCA (TBA) where the giant pumpkins will be on display. Brats and chips will be served compliments of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.
Location
Altru Family YMCA 215 N 7th St Grand Forks, ND 58203
The Weigh-in Celebration is free and open to the public (day will be determined by the pumpkins and the weather - time will be 11:30 am - 1:00 pm).
Donations are accepted by phone, by mail, with a team, in-person at the Y, or online (www.gfymca.org - DONTATE button on home page - choose Pumpkins for Parkinson's) until November 30, 2017.
