A Seaside team raised awareness and more than $2,600 for the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation during the fundraising event “Strolling in Seaside” July 25.

Led by captain Tina Sawyer, a Seaside resident, and her loyal companion, Anniken Sawyer, a 2-year-old cockapoo, the group walked along the Promenade from Avenue U to the Seaside Aquarium. The event was an extension of the foundation’s second annual “Walk in the Park,” held the same day in Seattle. People with Parkinson’s Disease, care partners, professionals and friends walked a two-mile course at Magnuson Park to raise awareness and funds.

While they could not physically attend the Seattle walk, about a dozen people and four canine participants participated in the Strolling in Seaside event.

Sawyer organized the local fundraiser. She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease about 10 years ago and has since become an advocate for research, education and support services, which are offered through the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation.

Others who joined Sawyer for the walk had been similarly affected by the disease. Jenny Becker, owner of B. Boutique on Broadway, said the issue was “real near and dear” to her heart. Her father, Dan Mackey, a longtime employee of Windermere in Cannon Beach, died five years ago. His struggle with the disease “affected our family in a deep way,” she said.

“It’s just a blessing for me to find out about this and be here and honor my dad,” Becker said.

It’s also important, she added, for the caretakers of individuals with Parkinson’s disease to receive advocacy and support.

Celia Young, a physical therapist from Yakima, Wash., led the group in stretches before they took their stroll. People were encouraged to participate in the walk for whatever time or distance they could.

Steve Wright, executive director of Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, said the organization encourages people who can’t come to Seattle for “Walk in the Park” to host walks in their hometowns.

“They’re raising money and doing a great job and part of our family,” he said. “We encourage people to do that because people can’t always come to Seattle for our services and for our events.”

The walks are part of the foundation’s annual campaign, Team Parkinson’s, which is the overall brand for the group’s event-based fundraising, Wright said.

Each year, dozens of events are held and numerous people fundraise under the auspices of Team Parkinson’s. The funds that are raised are spent in the northwest region, or Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. The organization offers services such as classes, the dissemination of educational information that might be pertinent to individuals with Parkinson’s or their caretakers, awareness programs and advocacy.

“Our mission is to improve quality of life,” Wright said. “We’re the link between diagnosis before we find a cure.”