Cintas Sunflower Rev It Up for Parkinson's Disease This Sunday, Sept. 11

The 11th annual Cintas Sunflower Rev it Up for Parkinson’s Disease fundraising event, presented by Montgomery Cyclery and the Deaconess Foundation, will be held beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016 at Yeatman’s Cove, Sawyer Point Park, in downtown Cincinnati. 

Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder affecting as many as one million Americans, with 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Funds raised from this event benefit the James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders at the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute, a collaboration of the UC College of Medicine and UC Health.

This year, organizers have planned many features for the event including:

• Dave Parker, a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2012, will be the Grand Marshal as well as a participant in the event, providing inspiration to all who come out to participate.
• Senator Rob Portman will serve as the honorary chair and will also be a participant. To begin the event, Sen. Portman will pay tribute to the first responders of 9/11.
• At kickoff, from 8 to 9 a.m., the band DFresh will entertain participants and get everyone ready for the athletic activities. 

Events will include something for all fitness and age levels, including a 5k walk/run, a 1k walk/wheelchair roll, a 25k family bike ride, a 100k challenging bike ride to Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, and more. 

The Be Well Cheetahs, a group of kids from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center who have physical challenges, will participating in the 5k walk/run. 

The celebration area will have refreshments and DJ entertainment. Some of the participating sponsors include Skyline Chili, JTM Foods, Flip Daddy’s, Trader Joe’s, Yankee Doodle Deli, Balance Café, 50West Brewing Company, Starbucks, Curate Snacks, Whole Foods and Infinit Performance.

For more information, visit www.sunflowerrev.org.