Step challenge raises over €125,000 for parkinson’s research
A fundraising challenge encouraging participants to walk 10,000 steps daily has already raised more than 125,000 euros for Parkinson’s research, according to a press release from Stapril. Nearly 2,000 participants have signed up for the initiative, which is in its second year of supporting ParkinsonNL.
The timing of the challenge coincides with World Parkinson’s Day, observed annually on April 11. Last year, nearly 500 participants joined the campaign, raising more than 55,000 euros. This year’s total has already more than doubled that amount.
Since last year, the event has been linked to ParkinsonNL, a connection organizers say is supported by research from RadboudUMC, which indicates that regular physical activity can improve brain function in people with Parkinson’s disease. Stapril was first launched in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, initially partnering with the Nationaal Fonds Kinderhulp. In subsequent years, the campaign raised funds for Het Vergeten Kind (The Forgotten Child).
Stapril is organized in collaboration with Vital Workplace Giving, which has encouraged companies to take part in the challenge. However, individuals can also participate by registering through the official website. The entry fee is 15 euros, and participants can track their daily step counts through the platform, which includes a tool for converting various physical activities into step equivalents.
