A Magnificent Mariner

Story courtesy of the CCAA

Seeing the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s Disease first-hand, Danielle Groenendijk sought to aid in the fight against the ailment. For her efforts to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s, Groenendijk is a 2021-22 recipient of the CCAA Torchbearer Scholarship, presented by Hudl.

Groenendijk, of Chemainus, BC, is majoring in Science at Vancouver Island University (VIU) in Nanaimo, BC. She is a fourth-year outside hitter on the Mariners' women’s volleyball team.

Groenendijk contacted Parkinson Canada and inquired about creating a fundraiser on behalf of her grandfather, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Her objective was to raise awareness for individuals and their families affected by the disease. She began her campaign on Dec. 19, 2021 (her grandfather's birthday) with a goal of running 250 kilometers in 30 days and the hope of raising $7,500.

“Danielle’s leadership and drive were immediately evident,” said Lisa Mintz, Coordinator of Events and Partnerships at Parkinson Canada. “Instead of letting her grandfather’s illness and her inability to visit him (due to COVID-19) get her down, she set an extremely ambitious and challenging goal for herself.”
Groenendijk set up the donation page and used a personal website and social media to share her progress, donations totals and facts about Parkinson’s. She reached her initial goal on Jan. 7, 20 days into the fundraiser, and decided to increase her goal to $10,000 with 69 km to go. Two days later, she reached that mark and by the end of the 30 days had raised $15,400.

“Danielle showed incredible leadership, ingenuity and determination in her drive to raise money and awareness for Parkinson’s,” said Tom Veenstra, Groenendijk’s former teacher, coach and Athletic Director at Duncan Christian School in Duncan, BC. “She did everything imaginable to spread the word about her campaign and her ability to adjust her goals added more attention to her fundraiser.”

To celebrate doubling her initial goal and to thank her supporters, Groenendijk ran a marathon a few days after her campaign ended, which helped raise her final total to $17,680. Her efforts raised considerable awareness for Parkinson’s in her communities and drew mainstream attention from multiple media outlets.

“We are thrilled to present Danielle with the CCAA Torchbearer Scholarship,” stated Rachel Krasnow, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Hudl. “She is a selfless leader that embodies community impact in her work to raise awareness for Parkinson’s Disease and in addition to her success on the court, Danielle’s tireless efforts to promote the fundraising campaign are aligned with Hudl’s mission to make every moment count.”

Groenendijk has excelled in all facets of her life which includes an extraordinary collegiate athletic record, comprised of multiple conference and national awards. Her team has won four consecutive CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championships, including the 2022 edition at Holland College in Charlottetown, PE, where she was also selected for the CCAA “Chuck Gullickson” Exemplary Leadership Award.

VIU Women’s Volleyball Head Coach, Shane Hyde, notes that Groenendijk has not only been a leader on their team but is one of the greatest ambassadors the university has ever had.

“As a team captain, Danielle leads by example and always displays a high level of initiative, responsibility, and professionalism,” said Hyde. “She is one of the most reliable people I have met, excelling on the court, in the classroom and in her community and we consider ourselves very lucky to have her as a member of our program.”

Parkinson’s, for which there is currently no cure, affects approximately 100,000 Canadians and their 400,000 family members, loved ones and care partners. Following her grandfather’s diagnosis, Groenendijk sought to learn more about the neurodegenerative disease and the many debilitating effects it has on the human body. With physical activity being an important way of improving a patient’s motor and non-motor functions she used her running campaign to share that knowledge.

“It is hard to put into words how I feel about this fundraiser,” said Groenendijk. “I am so thankful for all the support I received, both financial and emotional, from my various communities and I am grateful to Hudl and the CCAA for this recognition.”

“Although my grandpa may not fully comprehend what I did, I know he is proud of me.”