Tulip Trot blooms for 6th year, raising funds for Parkinson’s Disease aid

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- For over 6 years, the Tulip Trot has cemented itself as an annual 5K event dedicated to raising money for the Freudenthal Center for Parkinson's Disease.

Attendees walked or ran through the Remington Center's nature trails, coming together to support a cause that affects millions.

The money raised will go directly toward assisting those in the center's exercise and therapy programs, funding essential items such as boxing gloves and the space needed for specialized Parkinson's treatment programs.

Organizers note that Parkinson's disease is the second most common age-degenerative disease affecting the elderly, trailing only Alzheimer's.

"Only second to Alzheimer's," said Stephanie Stewart, Executive Director of the Freudenthal Center for Parkinson's Disease. "And my guess is it's going to overcome Alzheimer's in the next ten years. So it's growing and growing. This is a fundraiser for our center that allows people to come and exercise and be with other people that have Parkinson's disease."

Thanks to the right training and events like the Tulip Trot to help fundraise, Stewart says the people they help can not just cope but thrive.

Why tulips? The Freudenthal Center explains that tulips have become a universal symbol for Parkinson's awareness, representing hope and resilience in the face of the disease.

To learn more about the Freudenthal Center and future Tulip Trot events, visit the center's website.