Dodge Center couple to hike for Parkinson’s research

A Dodge Center couple, and their chihuahua, will be trekking across northern Minnesota this summer to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research.

Andy and Erin Brose have planned a “Hike for Hope” across more than 800 miles of the Minnesota portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

The purpose of the hike, Erin Brose said, is to raise both funds and awareness for Parkinson’s research. The disease, she said, has affected the Brose family directly as her mother-in-law, MaraLou Brose, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease just as she was retiring from her career as a public health nurse. MaraLou’s sister and Erin’s uncle have also been diagnosed with the disease.

“We intend to hike the approximately 800 miles in roughly three months’ time to raise funds for Parkinson’s disease,” Brose said. “Both sides of our family are being rocked by Parkinson’s disease and we see firsthand how devastating Parkinson’s is to our loved ones, how it robs them of their ‘Golden Years.’”

Using a hike for the project comes naturally to the couple, Brose said, because they are avid outdoors and hiking people.

In planning the project they also knew that they wanted all the proceeds from the hike to go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation because of the work it is doing with Parkinson’s research and encouraging those with the disease.

Brose said that since they do a lot of hiking they feel they will have no trouble completing the hike. Brose said that last summer she could easily do 10 miles a day and has done up to 40 miles a day. The goal, she said, is to do at least 10 miles a day but 20 or 30 miles a day is realistic.

They are planning to camp along the trail most nights but there will be stops in towns along the way to buy food, upload updates to social media, and occasional overnight stays.

The plan is to hike the Minnesota portion of the trail from west to east up to the Grand Portage area then go south along Lake Superior to Jay Cook National Park.

Those interested in following the couple on their hike can go to their YouTube channel, Hiking for Hope. Those wishing to donate to the fundraising effort can go to Patreon, Amazon Wishlist or Instagram. More information on the hike and donating is available by contacting them at HikingforHope1953@gmail.com.