NATCHEZ — Randy Ruffin is fighting Parkinson’s disease one step at a time.

To raise money for research, and awareness for Parkinson’s, Ruffin is walking the Natchez Trace starting at the state line between Mississippi and Alabama.

He plans to arrive in Natchez on Monday.

Parkinson’s is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, Ruffin was diagnosed at age 38.

On Friday evening, Ruffin said aside from bad weather the trip was going well.

In 2001 Ruffin, originally from Hattiesburg, was diagnosed with the disease and while it eventually led to his early retirement, it has not led to apathy.

Ruffin, a former detective, said loss of dexterity in his left hand and occasional tremors forced his retirement.

But Ruffin did not retire until 2007 and that’s when he decided to put his time to good use.

“I watched this documentary about a guy who walked across America,” he said. “I thought it was a good idea.”

And so Ruffin and a small band of cohorts started walking — and pedaling.

On May 13 Ruffin and company started off from the state line and haven’t stopped yet.

Ruffin said he and his friends have been alternating days between walking and biking.

“Our butts are a little sore,” he said.

A full day of walking covers about 15 miles while a day of biking yields double the mileage, Ruffin said.

Pounding the pavement next to Ruffin is his long time friend Mark Hicks.

“We just want to get the word out about this disease,” Hicks said of Parkinson’s.

For both Ruffin and Hicks that’s the ultimate goal of the trip, raising awareness.

Well, raising awareness and raising cash. Ruffin said he hopes to raise approximately $10,000 in donations to be used for Parkinson’s research.

But no matter how much money Ruffin actually raises on his trip, he said the message has already been spread.

“We’ve been talking to all kinds of people,” he said.

In fact, on Friday a group of people joined Ruffin for part of his walk as he passed through their town.

“It’s a good feeling,” he said.

On June 7 Ruffin is expected to present his donation to the American Parkinson Disease Foundation at their walk-a-thon in Jackson.