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70-year-old completes 10K despite Parkinson’s

After living for years with Parkinson’s disease severe enough to freeze him for hours, George Surdu completed the TC 10K Sunday in over one hour in the TC10K Sunday. The 70-year-old Surdu turned in a one-hour, 19-minute time in the 10-kilometre race.

After living for years with Parkinson’s disease severe enough to freeze him for hours, George Surdu completed the TC 10K Sunday in over one hour in the TC10K Sunday.

The 70-year-old Surdu turned in a one-hour, 19-minute time in the 10-kilometre race. He ran with his family and other members of his team from Mortgage Alliance and Cutting Edge Lending.

The company is owned by Surdu’s son-in-law, Andrew Kempton, married to daughter Cristina, both of whom also ran to help make the race a real family and friend affair.

“I really wanted to help my team,” said Surdu in an interview.

For about the past 10 years Surdu has lived with Parkinson’s Disease. His symptoms went beyond the tremors so often associated with the disease. He would sometimes seize up and be unable to move for five hours or more.

Last December, he underwent a cutting-edge operation called DBS, for Deep Brain Stimulation. Wire leads were inserted into his brain sending electrical signals.

Surdu said it’s like a pacemaker, but instead of sending electrical stimulus to the heart, the leads send stimulus to the brain. The operation’s success was huge.

“It’s a huge difference for me,” he said as he gathered with his family for a post-run barbecue.