He's her go-to guy.
That's what Crystal Beddome says about her dad, Barry, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease about a decade ago.
"Dad - he's always been so easy to talk to - even now - whenever I need help or need to talk I can always go to him - and as much as he loves me - I know I'm going to get an honest answer - whether I want it or not," Crystal laughed through her tears, gazing fondly at her dad sitting up in his hospital bed Tuesday afternoon.
Crystal, along with Team Uncle Barry made up of family and friends, will once again fundraise for Parkinson's and take part in Saturday's SuperWalk from noon to 3 p.m. at the picnic shelter at Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park.
Crystal started fundraising for Parkinson's four years ago when she heard the incentive was a weekend trip to a resort in Osoyoos, an area she loves to visit and if she raised more than $1,000 her name would be put into the draw for a chance to win the trip.
But although the incentive got her started, her motivation quickly changed.
"Once I got started I didn't want the incentive because I wanted all the money to go towards research because this has been an uphill battle or a downhill slide, whichever way you want to look at it," said Crystal, who has raised almost $7,000 for the cause.
The biggest gathering of the team saw about 30 people come together in year two and even though they didn't all show up for last year's cold and dreary walk the number of fundraisers keeps growing, she added.
Barry, who is hard of hearing and suffers from dementia that comes along as one of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, sat quietly watching as his wife, Gina, and daughter, Crystal chatted.
"Barry first noticed a tremor in his thumb that started about 25 years ago and he recognized it right away because his father had Parkinson's," said Gina.
Barry's father, two sisters and nephew all have Parkinson's even though it is not definitively known to be a hereditary disease, added Crystal.
"He knew it was coming and was diagnosed about 10 years ago," said Gina. "He started taking medication about eight years ago."
The medicine is to try to control the symptoms of the chronic disease.
Parkinson's is a neurological disorder and is the second most common chronic neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's, according to information provided by Parkinson Society BC. There is no cure for the disease at this time. When cells in the brain which produce dopamine die off, Parkinson's symptoms appear. Right now in B.C. there are 13,300 people who have the disease.
When Barry weakened and could not walk very well any more, Gina couldn't care for him at home any longer and he was admitted to hospital in June.
"And with Parkinson's sometimes dementia comes with it and that was rearing its ugly head," said Gina. "And so it was time."
Crystal said she believes her mom took care of her dad far longer than she should have.
"But it's that love, right?" said Crystal. "You just don't want to admit defeat."
Because of the level of care Barry needs, he is on the waiting list for a spot in an extended care home like Parkside, Gateway or Simon Fraser Lodge that are able to care for a Parkinson's patient. The wait list is about four or five months long, Barry's family was told, so they hope they will soon see Barry settled into an appropriate facility.
There are some points where spirits are low in the Beddome family.
"Whenever it comes to dad I get emotional," said Crystal, reaching for a tissue. "I see what he's going through and I just want to help. I want to do something instead of just watching it and that's why I can't stop fundraising now because it makes me feel better knowing that I'm doing something. I can't help dad but I can keep fundraising so that a cure can be found one day."
The SuperWalk is Parkinson Society BC's biggest fundraiser and with no government funding it's especially important for as many people as possible to participate in the walk to show support or fundraise.
This year the provincial society is looking for 2,400 people to walk in more than 20 communities during the event to raise at least $440,000 where proceeds go to research and support those who have the disease.
Register at www.parkinson.bc.ca or call Ron at 250-964-9695 for more information.
