"I was one who didn't think I ever would - because that's not me," he said.

"But I sort-of got forced to go along by someone, and it's one of the best things I've ever done.

"I look forward to Mondays and Wednesdays."

That someone was Mr Balkin's wife Lin, and for the last six months the couple have been meeting with the Bearers, Sharers and Carers walking group.

"It might not be talking about the illness; it's general talk and you can pick up things from other people," she said.

"You find out somebody else has got the same problem, that they're not sleeping.

"We're there to support one another."

Much has changed in two-and-a-half years, post-diagnosis for Mr Balkin, who walked with nearly 150 others through Sumsion Gardens for the The Walk in the Park for Parkinson's.

"The first 12, 18 months is tough because you're angry, but once you have acceptance and get involved in groups like this, it really does help," he said.

"We exercise, we share - unless you've got Parkinson's you really don't understand, with all due respect to people - and we mumble and grumble.

"More importantly our carers come down and it's an outlet for them for support.

"Carers are the forgotten part of the equation and they go through hell - we with the disease can be difficult to live with and we need help."

The former Border Mail Printing general manager said the biggest challenge for country people diagnosed with Parkinson's was local neurologists were "not really equipped to provide strategies to move forward".

"That's not being critical of them, it's just fact; they as neurologists cover a whole broad range of things," he said.

"We go down to Florey Institute, where the only people they see is those with Parkinson's, and we get guidance for our journey.

"There's no scan, there's no blood test - you have to go to the neurologist and when I walked down the passageway, my right arm didn't move and the rest is history.

"You've basically got to go down to Melbourne to get the help you need."

Mr Balkin said that made the presence of Parkinson's Victoria chief operating officer Jo Hansen on Sunday all the more important.

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"Parkinson's Victoria is a great organisation, but we sometimes have the feeling it can be Melbourne-central, and Jo needs to be applauded for coming up here and joining us," he said.

Ms Hansen said the hundreds of dollars raised by walkers went straight into services and education.

"We have a free, confidential service and telephone line, web-based services and a range of peer support groups including three in the North East," she said.

"At support groups in Albury-Wodonga, Beechworth and Corryong, about 100 people across this area are participating.

"We also run a range of education, conferences and seminars; sometimes just having the right information can be really important.

"Every year, thousands of Victorians come together and the Wodonga event is our last even on the calendar.

"That's why we've come up today, to cheer and provide our support."