Just like he did as a former running back for the Wallaceburg Tartans football team and as a professional firefighter with the Chatham-Kent Fire Department, Wallaceburg resident Mike Parrish is ready for battle.
However, the end result this time around is not the end-zone or to douse some flames – it’s to walk again.
Parrish has started locomotive treatment in Toronto, which will be four days a week for the next 15 weeks. The program is called “Aim to Walk” and is an intensive physiotherapy design to help retrain the central nervous system with the motion of walking.
Parrish has been wheel-chair bound after suffering from a stroke in 2012.
In order to help Parrish and his family, the Wallaceburg Volunteer Firefighters Association held a pig roast fundraiser at the Sydenham Curling Club back in September.
Just this past week, the group presented Parrish with a $20,000 cheque.
Willy Druer, a volunteer firefighter with the Wallaceburg station, said it was never a question for their group to help Parrish.
“Once a brother always a brother… they say firefighters are a brotherhood of men and women, this brotherhood doesn’t end when we leave the fire hall,” Druer said. “We always have each others backs at fires, or in life.”
Druer said fellow volunteers Chad Murphy and Ryan Coll spearheaded the fundraiser.
“The ‘never say never’ slogan was given life,” he said. “We as firefighters knew that no was never an option. This fundraiser would be something that each of us would look back on and say, ‘I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
Druer said their entire group want to thank the people and businesses of Wallaceburg and all of Chatham-Kent who donated or gave.
“They should be proud of what they did and the difference they will make in Mikes life,” Druer said. “The Wallaceburg volunteers firefighters say thank-you from the depths of our hearts and for showing why Wallaceburg is such an awesome place to call home. Mike has a long hard challenging road ahead but in the end there is no doubt one day we will demolish the wheelchair ramp that was built at his house and replace it with a sidewalk.”
Druer added Parrish has made “awesome progress” in gaining more feeling, strength and mobility in legs.
“He says that it is a hard and grueling workout, but that he can feel more strength and mobility already,” he said.
Watch the Sydenham Current for updates on Parrish’s progress.
Aaron, that was a great article you wrote on Mike!! Thanks so much!