One of Ballarat's greatest sportspeople is helping raise awareness for an issue near and dear to his heart.
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Steve Moneghetti is taking part in Parkinson's Victoria's COVID-safe virtual event, 27forParkinson's, across October.
The event is asking participants to walk for 27 days in a row to raise awareness for the estimated 27,000 Victorians living with Parkinson's.
Moneghetti has seen the effects of the disease up close, as his mother has lived with Parkinson's for the past 15 years.
He has used his walks to reflect on what his mother and others living with Parkinson's go through on a daily basis and to help raise awareness within the community.
"Over the 27 days, you have busy days and not-so busy days, but I've always made sure to put some time away for a walk," he said.
"When I've been walking, I'm thinking about the impact it's had on mum and other people who are living with Parkinson's, which has been a strong motivator to keep going. The issues we have don't even compare to what they are dealing with."
Moneghetti added his goal of helping eliminate the stigma within the community about Parkinson's by informing people about the different impacts it can have on someone's life.
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"People can always learn more... for instance my mum doesn't necessarily shake, rather she can't control some of her movements," he continued.
"There's a general knowledge about Parkinson's, but people don't really understand. It's not a death sentence, it's something a lot of people are able to manage.
"Within the Parkinson's community I think a lot of people living with the disease may carry some sense of embarrassment, so having the public be more welcoming and more knowledgeable goes a long way."
You can learn more about Parkinson's Victoria education and support services here.