Fueled by heart and determination, Catch the Cure—a local nonprofit founded in 2007—has become a leading organization in raising awareness and advocating for those affected by Parkinson’s Disease. Inspired by life on the coast, Catch the Cure founded Paddle for Parkinson’s, an annual stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking race. This year, the event is celebrating 15 years of its continued efforts.
Catch the Cure’s founder, Ramona Singleterry, was driven by a desire for change, our coastal community and a magazine from Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s Foundation. This led her to become the sole organizer for the event.
“I opened [the magazine] up one day, and on the inside of the cover was this man, and he started a fundraiser in his community called Shake and Bake. To me, we live here on the coast, so let’s do a fishing tournament,” Singleterry said.
In the fourth year of hosting fishing tournaments, with the ambition to diversify participation and create a unique fundraiser anyone could join, Singleterry transformed the event to Paddle for Parkinsons, despite being told it would never take off.
“I mean, you just never know. We’re not huge, but we measure our success by the people who feel the support,” Singleterry said.
In its 15th year, the beloved event continues its mission of bringing the community together through a professionally timed race on North Padre Island open to stand-up paddleboards, kayaks or other manually powered vessels. The course consists of a 2.5-mile scenic loop that begins at the Billish Park Boat Launch and passes through the Padre Island canals. Once the race has ended, a celebration is held at the park across from the boat ramp where participants can enjoy free, freshly grilled food, cold drinks and live music.
Along with participants’ support, the Coastal Bend community has turned to social media in an effort to share and raise awareness.
“Everybody really helps, especially through social media,” Singleterry said. “We start making posts, and a lot of people will share them. Even if you can’t help financially or participate, just share a post. That makes a big difference.”
Singleterry’s motivation for the continuous efforts of hosting the event is rooted in a strong sense of passion for those living with Parkinson’s.
“When you’ve lived with or known someone who has a disease, you realize what you’re doing isn’t nothing; it matters, but it’s still nothing compared to what they live with 24/7. So supporting them is the least I can do,” she shared.
This year, the annual Paddle for Parkinson’s race falls on Aug. 30, and registration is now open. Each push of a paddle brings hope for those living with Parkinson’s to find a cure.
Contact: catchthecure.org
