Anna Wolfe (left) with her family at the Boston Run/Walk.
The North Shore Walk for Parkinson’s Disease began in 2007 as a small community event rooted in family, love and determination. Founded by Anna Wolfe and her family in honor of her father, Daniel Wistran, who was living with Parkinson’s disease, the walk was created to raise awareness and support research while bringing together neighbors and families affected by the disease.
“Developing a walk and fundraising for PD gave me and my family a sense of purpose and hope,” said Anna. “It made me feel like I could do something about the sadness and fear I felt after my dad’s diagnosis.”
Over the next decade, the walk steadily grew, reflecting the strength of the Parkinson’s community on Boston’s North Shore. In 2017, The Michael J. Fox Foundation adopted the event as part of its national Run/Walk Series, expanding its reach and impact. What started with just 25 participants evolved into a gathering welcoming hundreds of people united by a shared mission.
By 2025, the Run/Walk had outgrown its original home in Swampscott and moved to Carson Beach in Boston. This past year, more than 1,200 participants came together to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research, raising nearly $450,000 — the most ever raised by a single Run/Walk event. Since its inception, the Boston Run/Walk has raised more than $1.5 million to support critical research.
For participants like Lanette Barnes, who is living with Parkinson’s disease, the event represents hope. “The event signals hope for us PD warriors,” she said. “There is strength in numbers."
From the first steps taken by Anna Wolfe and her family on the North Shore to the thousands who now gather at Carson Beach, the Boston Run/Walk stands as a testament to what a dedicated community can achieve when driven by love, hope and the desire to make a difference for those living with Parkinson’s.