'Passionate about Parkinson's': Travis Low founds charity, raises $550K

Travis Low has watched his father's physical and cognitive abilities diminish over the last decade. It's been hard for him and everyone in his family.

His dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 48, before he had even had a chance to finish his career. 

"It was a really sad thing and it shocked our family," he said.

Low, who was in his early 20s at the time, decided he would work through his shock and sorrow by using his business education and pairing it with philanthropic action.

Lows in Motion and its highly successful fundraiser, the Parkinson's Shaker, were born. Low said he founded the charity to make a difference for other people like his father and grandfather, who were diagnosed with the neurological disease, and their families.

A decade later, Lows in Motions raised about $550,000 for the Saskatchewan division of Parkinson Canada.

"It's a pretty lively event. A pretty youthful event which is non-typical for Parkinson's fundraising events," said Low.

According to the charity's website, it's the most-attended Parkinson's fundraiser in the country.

Do you know someone who is working hard to make Saskatchewan a better place? Nominate them (or yourself) for CBC Saskatchewan's Future 40 today.

After founding Lows in Motion, Low threw himself into raising awareness and money for Parkinson's disease, accepting the position of executive director with Parkinson's Society of Saskatchewan in 2011. The society joined with Parkinson Canada during his tenure.

During his time with the organization, Low spearheaded the first-ever Parkinson's education conference, bringing together experts and health care professionals from across North America to speak in Saskatoon.

"I'd like to think that the difference we've been able to make for people living in our province, and for people living across Canada, is that we've creating more awareness and education."

Today Parkinson Canada's Saskatchewan division focuses on awareness, education, research and support for people diagnosed with the degenerative disease and their families.

Low understands the need for support. During his time as executive director, he was often the first contact for people  who had recently been diagnosed and their families. He fielded a lot of bewildered, painful phone calls that resonated deeply due to his own family's painful experience.

"It was a bit of an emotional battle I was going through ... something I had a deep-rooted passion in, but also something I struggled with as well."

Taking time to see the world

Low decided to pivot from a challenging personal situation and turn it into an opportunity. 

He decided to take time to grow, stepping away from his successful leadership role. For him, this meant visiting 14 countries.

"It was pretty incredible travelling the world for a year," said Low.

The journey took Low on a tour through Europe and South America. He spent a summer in Scotland living on an island. He attended The Open at St. Andrews, one of golf's four major tournaments.

Low made his way through central Europe, stopping to work at a yoga retreat in the alps and to eat pizza, pasta and drink wine in Italy.

He briefly came back to Saskatchewan in the middle of his trip to attend the Lows in Motion Parkinson's Shaker, then headed to South America. The southern leg of the trip saw a stint working at a surf/yoga/Spanish school in Ecuador and a hike up and down Machu Picchu, plus lots of surfing in between.

"It was an incredible year and a highlight of my life for sure," said Low.

Saskatchewan is the place to be (and start a business)

The most important lesson Low said he learned while he was away was the value of his hometown.

"Saskatchewan is home and it's an incredible place to be from and to live," he said. "I saw some unbelievable places around the world but I still love Saskatoon, love Saskatchewan and am very happy to still call this my home."

After returning home to Saskatoon, Low and Ricky Forbes, a university friend turned storm-chasing social media maverick, cooked up the idea for a social media management and training company, Blue Moose Media, while paddle boarding down the South Saskatchewan River.

"We really saw a gap in businesses being able to market their product using social media," said Low.

The pair's blend of social media expertise and business experience has allowed the company to grow. Currently, it's efforts are focused on helping companies in Saskatoon and Northern Sask.

"We're too busy," laughed Low.  "I easily could have lived any of the places I visited, but there's something about this place. Knowing your roots. Being proud of where I'm from and coming back here, starting my own business."

This year marks the 10th, and final, Parkinson's Shaker. The event is sold out.

Do you know someone who is working hard to make Saskatchewan a better place? Nominate them (or yourself) for CBC Saskatchewan's Future 40 today.