People are being encouraged to lace up their walking shoes and help boost the search for new treatments for Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s UK is organising a number of fundraising walks later this year, including one at Lochore Meadows.
Participants will help raise funds to support ground-breaking research to improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s.
Julie Ionta, Community Fundraiser for Parkinson’s UK, said: “Walk for Parkinson’s is a fantastic way for people to get together and raise money to fund research into the most promising new treatments.
“We hope as many people as possible will come along to take part in our walks, which promise to be lots of fun. We’re also keen to hear from anyone who would be interested in volunteering to support the smooth running of the event.”
Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, with almost 13,000 people living with the condition in Scotland. Parkinson’s UK estimates that, within five years, that number will have increased to around 15,000.
With the condition becoming more prevalent, there is a strong desire to back research into new treatments for Parkinson’s.
Jo Goodburn, who lives in Fife, has been closely impacted by Parkinson’s. Her husband, Brendan Hawdon, was diagnosed in 2017, six weeks after her father, Bill Goodburn, got the news he was living with Parkinson’s.
Brendan and Jo have been committed to research into better treatments ever since and now serve, respectively, as chairman and secretary of the Dundee Research Interest Group.
“We work with an amazing group of scientists who are at the forefront of new research and running trials into new drugs and treatments," explained Jo. "They are keen to understand the experience of living with Parkinson’s. Having the chance to collaborate with them and see what’s happening in the labs is wonderful.
There are four research interest groups in Scotland. Bringing together people with Parkinson’s, family members, carers and scientists, they are made up of people determined to find better treatments and, one day, hopefully, a cure.
“We would all love to see a cure but there will never be a cure if we don’t fund enough research and encourage and support enough volunteers to take part in trials,” added Jo.
Walk for Parkinson’s at Lochore Meadows will be on October 6.
More information on the walks and details of how to sign up to take part ot volunteer can be found on the Parkinson’s UK website.
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