We are pleased to introduce Gary Gosselin, Creator & Community Builder focused on building support for the Parkinson's community. Gary has been a great friend to York Nordic, sharing his experiences climbing Mt. Major in New Hampshire three times a week all while creating awareness of the multiple challenges faced by sufferers of Parkinson's.

Impacted by Parkinson's himself, Gary created The Resolve Band™ which provides wearers with a daily reminder to embrace the power of INTENT and Perseverance to support the Parkinson's community and anyone facing life's challenges. All profits are donated to the Parkinson Voice Project to support their mission of helping people with Parkinson's regain and retain their speech.

Recently we were honored to have Gary participate in our 4-Week Virtual Nordic Walking Challenge for those with Parkinson's. It was a study that used an innovative virtual Nordic
Walking program that combined interactive maps, personalized goal tracking, and daily
motivational text messages to simulate iconic hiking routes such as Mt. Washington, the
Grand Canyon, Kilimanjaro, and Cinque Terre. Through the integration of technology, behavioral science, and accessible movement, the challenge offered participants a supportive framework for building consistent walking habits in a fun and engaging format.

Our study summary report showed that participants demonstrated measurable improvements in several key areas:

• Improved Mood: Scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) decreased, indicating fewer depressive symptoms and enhanced emotional well-being.
• Increased Motivation: Participants showed increases in intrinsic motivation and identified regulation on the BREQ-2 scale — walking more because they enjoyed it and personally valued its benefits.
• Greater Self-Determination: The Relative Autonomy Index (RAI) increased, reflecting a shift toward more self-directed, autonomous motivation rather than walking out of obligation or external pressure.

We appreciate Gary and all of the participants for the learnings from the study and for their efforts. In addition to reinforcing the benefits of walking, it has inspired us to continue creating monthly challenges available to anyone looking for motivation or structure in walking habits.

Lets' Get Out There!