{"id":541354,"date":"2026-03-17T02:01:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T02:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/541354\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T02:01:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T02:01:19","slug":"a-long-ride-for-hope-rob-warner-takes-on-900-miles-to-fight-parkinsons-cycling-west","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/541354\/","title":{"rendered":"A Long Ride for Hope: Rob Warner Takes on 900 Miles to Fight Parkinson\u2019s – Cycling West"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Koby Brown \u2014 Most of us would balk at the idea of riding a bicycle across a state\u2014even if the state were little old Rhode Island. Tell your friends you plan to do it and they\u2019ll probably call you crazy. Some might even say you can\u2019t do it or that you\u2019re not strong enough.<\/p>\n

None of that stops Rob Warner. And Rob faces a challenge most of us never will.<\/p>\n

Doctors diagnosed Rob with early-onset Parkinson\u2019s disease when he was 33, just three months after his youngest child was born. Parkinson\u2019s\u2014the world\u2019s fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder\u2014primarily affects a patient\u2019s ability to control movement. Millions of people live with Parkinson\u2019s, and tens of thousands receive the diagnosis every year. Its hallmark symptoms include tremors, stiffness, and slowed movement, along with a host of other difficult complications. Researchers continue searching for a cure and for ways to ease patients\u2019 symptoms.<\/p>\n

As the disease has progressed, Rob\u2019s life has become more complicated. Tasks that once felt routine now require greater effort as Parkinson\u2019s affects his motor skills.<\/p>\n

But Rob keeps moving.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Rob Warner. Photo courtesy of Koby Brown.<\/p>\n

Two summers ago, he joined the Spinning Wheels Tour, a group of Parkinson\u2019s patients and supporters who crossed Canada by bicycle to raise awareness. Riders of all kinds took part\u2014young and old, fit and out of shape, healthy and ill, Parkinson\u2019s patients and non-patients alike.<\/p>\n

Rob rode the British Columbia leg, a weeklong effort that demanded grit, sweat, and determination\u2014and more than 300 miles of pedaling. Together, the group covered more than 5,000 miles. Their goal: raise awareness, fight stigma, build a support community, and beat the odds.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Rob Warner. Photo courtesy of Koby Brown.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s another reason, too. Intense exercise ranks among the best therapies for managing Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

Research shows that vigorous exercise\u2014especially cycling\u2014can slow the disease\u2019s progression and provide meaningful relief from symptoms. Hard exercise improves both gross and fine motor function, enhances balance, and stimulates brain mechanisms that preserve dopamine. As patients exercise, the brain repairs neural connections and protects dopamine-producing neurons.<\/p>\n

Cycling offers particular benefits. The rapid, repetitive motion of pedaling forces the brain to adapt, improving motor control. The smooth, continuous movement also reduces freezing of gait while delivering a strong cardiovascular workout without the joint stress common in other forms of exercise. Cardio training further helps Parkinson\u2019s patients by reducing stiffness, a symptom that strongly affects quality of life.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, many patients feel powerless to improve their situation.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly why Rob and his teammates are preparing an even more ambitious ride this spring.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Course map.<\/p>\n

From May 2 to May 22, 2026, Rob\u2014serving as captain of Team Utah\u2014will climb back into the saddle. He will lead a group of supporters on a 20-day journey from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Phoenix, Arizona, where the 7th World Parkinson Congress will take place from May 24\u201327.<\/p>\n

Their route will cross Utah, Nevada, California, and Arizona, including stretches along the Wasatch Front and through Cedar Breaks, Snow Canyon, Valley of Fire, and Lake Havasu. Two other teams\u2014Team Route 66 and Team West Coast\u2014will also ride to Phoenix in support of the World Parkinson Congress.<\/p>\n

Rob and Team Utah invite anyone to join the journey. Ride a mile or ride all 900. Show up on an old Walmart Huffy BMX or a ten-thousand-dollar Bianchi. However you ride, you\u2019ll find a section of road where you can join in, get some exercise, make friends, and support an important cause.<\/p>\n

We hope you\u2019ll find a way to support this effort, stand with millions of people living with Parkinson\u2019s, and connect with the PD community.<\/p>\n

To learn more\u2014or to find other ways to support Team Utah and the broader Parkinson\u2019s community\u2014find them on Facebook at\u00a0Team Utah \u2013 Pedal for Parkinson\u2019s<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

(Visited 19 times, 19 visits today)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Koby Brown \u2014 Most of us would balk at the idea of riding a bicycle across a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":541355,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[445],"tags":[49,48,635,82],"class_list":["post-541354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cycling","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cycling","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/541354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=541354"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/541354\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/541355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=541354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=541354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=541354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}