Sierra Nevada Drive for Parkinson’s Rally Oct. 5

Drivers are being encouraged to sign up early for an Oct. 5 road rally through the Sierra Nevada to raise funds for those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.

The rally begins with a brief drivers meeting at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 5 in the parking lot of the Douglas County Community & Senior Center in Gardnerville. 

Instructions and maps will be available for the three recommended routes over the Sierra Nevada to Sonora, Calif., and back over Sonora, Ebbetts or Carson passes.

All three routes reach the Sonora home and studio of automotive artist Kelly Telfer, supporter of many Parkinson’s fundraising events.  “He is pleased to share his studio, his artwork, and stories of people and places in the orb of all things automotive,” said Gardnerville resident Bill Reuter. “His large scale paintings of auto racing and historic machines are quite amazing.”

A catered buffet lunch for participants, provided by a Gardnerville family will be ready when drivers reach Kelly’s ranch.

Returning to Minden in the afternoon, the Foley Family has offered the exclusive use of the third floor tasting room at the Minden Mill Distillery with cash bar for their wines and spirits.

“Parkinson’s Disease is becoming more prevalent and is now appearing in ever younger men and women,” Reuter said. “In Douglas County alone there are approximately 200 sufferers, with over 10,000 cases throughout Nevada and over a million in the US.” Local Parkinson’s patients meet twice weekly at the Community Center for exercise classes. Exercise has been shown to slow the progress of the disease. With the help of Fit for Life, the group pays an instructor, but funds are short.

The rally is being conducted along with Drive Toward a Cure, which raises funds nationally for Parkinson’s awareness, treatment, and research. All donations will be used locally at the Douglas County Community Center in Gardnerville and at the Parkinson’s Support Center of Northern Nevada in Reno.

Reuter asked those who can’t attend the rally to consider making a donation. Because of space concerns at Kelly Telfer’s and at the Minden Mill, the drive roster is limited. 

Contact Tony Crescimanno at tony.crescimanno@gmail.com or Bill Reuter at wgr1225@yahoo.com for answers to specific questions.