In 2005 Gary Petler of Alberton Hydraulics received the bad news that he had Parkinson’s disease. When Hydromobile managing director Roger Noble discovered this, he sponsored the Christmas dinner of the Parkinson’s support group in Alberton. Spearheaded by Roger and marketing manager, Lolita de Witt, Hydromobile is now committed to making as many people as possible aware of this debilitating disease. Their first project was to sponsor a large team of cyclists in the 2011 Momentum 94.7 Cycle Challenge. Wearing T-shirts printed with the Parkinson’s Awareness tulip logo, they rode on behalf of the awareness campaign.
The campaign continued in 2012 when Hydromobile printed more T-shirts, as well as cloth and steel badges and biker’s safety vests, and also had a printed gazebo made. Together with Mark Bartram from Hydustrial Distribution, who also sponsored T-shirts, Hydromobile represented the campaign at the Triumph Motorcycle day held at the Piston Ring Club in Modderfontein. This was the first event where the campaign was communicated to the general public and it sparked a fair amount of interest. Hydromobile continued the awareness campaign at a school golf day. Many of the youngsters showed great interest in knowing more about the disease and even roped in a doctor playing in the event to tell them more.
“Thank you does not seem to be sufficient for all that has been done, but from the bottom of my heart and from everyone else affected by Parkinson’s disease, thank you!” says Gary.
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