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Parkinson's patient, friend start walkathon

Natchez Trace event to raise money for nonprofits that conduct research

Nash Nunnery
Special to The Clarion-Ledger

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pb...NEWS/802080358

Randy Ruffin is walking the entire 300-plus mile Mississippi portion of the historic Natchez Trace Parkway to bring attention to Parkinson's disease.

Ruffin was a cop in his hometown of Clinton and an FBI agent stationed in Newark, N.J. He's also living with Parkinson's disease at age 44.

To call attention to the incurable brain disease, Ruffin started Walking the Trace 2008, which will launch May 13 at the Mississippi-Alabama border and continue southwest until he reaches Natchez 21 days later.

He and fellow organizer Mark Hicks plan on walking the entire distance while raising money for nonprofit organizations involved in Parkinson's disease research. Their adventure is nicknamed "the walk."

Clinton Police Detective Josh Frazier has offered to drive their RV.

"The Trace is perfect, since it's not heavily traveled," Ruffin said. "We have verbal commitments from people to drive the bus and help with various functions along the way. We'll sleep in the RV and try to do an average of 15 miles per day."

Ruffin retired from the Clinton Police Department in 2007 and now teaches criminal justice at MC. He sees himself in his students.

Though some minor details remain to be worked out, such as getting a permit from the federal government to access the Trace, Ruffin is confident the event will be a success and the message about Parkinson's disease will reach the masses.

"I want to bring attention to Parkinson's, first and foremost, because I have it. We want people's awareness of the disease to be raised and at the same time raise money for some of the support groups out there," said Ruffin.

Hicks, director of enforcement for the state Alcohol Beverage Control, grew up in Clinton with Ruffin.

"Randy and I are very close, having played sports together from an early age," said Hicks, whose father Billy also has Parkinson's.

A 1981 Clinton High grad, Ruffin said he was depressed when first diagnosed in 2001 in his late 30s.

"It was a big shock, but I decided I'd rather meet this thing head-on. I've got to live with it or succumb to it," he said.