Latest news with #Parkinson'sUKCymru
Powys County Times
09-05-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Welshpool couple urge people to join Parkinson's walk
A Welshpool couple whose lives have been turned upside down by Parkinson's are urging people to join them on a charity walk. Keith and Rhian Wall are calling for people to sign up to an annual charity walk which is being held in north Wales for the first time this summer. Walk for Parkinson's, organised by Parkinson's UK Cymru, is taking place at Alyn Waters Country Park, Wrexham on Saturday 28 June where people in the community can help fund specialist Parkinson's care in Wales and the rest of the UK. Keith, 67, was diagnosed with Parkinson's 12 years ago in 2013. Both he and his wife Rhian now have to look at things in a different way - it now takes longer for Keith to do even the smallest of jobs, they need to consider accessibility while travelling and remember to ensure that Keith takes the endless medication on time. But both are still positive about the future. Parkinson's is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, affecting 153,000 people in the UK. A complex brain condition that gets worse over time, it has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety, and there is currently no cure. People can live well with the condition with the right support, but a lack of specialists means thousands of people don't have access to the care they need, so the Walk for Parkinson's this year will help fund the specialists required. Keith said: 'Rhian and I are both active members of the local Parkinson's UK Cymru Montgomeryshire support group. It's a really good place to come together and it makes you feel less alone. 'But we need to continue raising awareness and that's why we're urging everyone to come together and support the Walk for Parkinson's in Wrexham this summer. "We've taken part in two previous walks and Rhian even completed a sky dive in 2023 at Whitchurch raising well over £1,000 for Parkinson's UK. We are hoping that any funds that are raised will make life a little easier for everyone that lives with Parkinson's.' Rhian added: 'I couldn't be more proud of my husband. From his initial diagnosis he has remained so very positive and does everything he can to try to keep the symptoms at bay. "We are both members of our local Parkinson's UK Cymru group which is always very positive too. We have made many friends there and enjoy our meetings and outings together and learn a lot from each other.' Keri McKie, community fundraiser for Wales at Parkinson's UK Cymru, said: 'People like Keith and Rhian are remarkable, giving so much time to make a positive difference to other people's lives. 'Last year, the Walk for Parkinson's in Wales raised more than £27,000 with an incredible 300 walkers getting involved. "It's important we continue to take vital steps in helping to provide and fund the care and support that's urgently needed for the 8,300 people living with the condition in Wales." It costs £12 to sign up to Walk for Parkinson's, while under 18s go free. The suggested sponsorship target per person is £100. All walkers will receive a fundraising pack with tips and advice, sponsorship forms and an exclusive Walk for Parkinson's t-shirt to wear on the day. The event will start and finish at Alyn Waters, Gwesyllt, with two different routes available for people to choose from - shorter 1.7 mile route and a longer six-mile route for participants seeking a bigger challenge. The latter is not appropriate for participants using a wheelchair or pushchair.
Leader Live
03-05-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Sylvia marks 35 years as volunteer for Parkinson's charity
Sylvia Prankard has no plans to stop doing so either as she calls on the public to lace up and sign up to the charity's spectacular annual charity walk - which is being held in north Wales for the first time ever this summer. Walk for Parkinson's, organised by Parkinson's UK Cymru, is taking place at Alyn Waters Country Park in Wrexham on Saturday, June 28. 73-year-old Sylvia has had her own experiences with Parkinson's too. Her late husband, Harry was diagnosed with the condition in 1989 and, at the time, his condition meant he had to leave his much loved job in the army. He then found solace by setting up a support group in Wrexham to support other people living with Parkinson's there. Sylvia soon got involved as the treasurer before taking over as the lead volunteer for the group after Harry died in 2015. Sylvia said: 'We campaigned for a long time to get a local Parkinson's nurse in Wrexham. While this was a long time ago and the situation changed for the better during my husband's lifetime, I'm so pleased that Walk for Parkinson's will use the money raised this year to help fund the specialist care that people living with the condition so desperately need. "And while living with the condition can be difficult, I always remember that my husband used to say Parkinson's had to live with him rather than him having to put up with Parkinson's." Parkinson's is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, affecting 153,000 people in the UK. It's a complex brain condition that gets worse over time and has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety, and there is currently no cure. With the right care and support, people can live well with the condition. However, a lack of specialists means that thousands of people don't have access to the care they need, so all the money raised by Walk for Parkinson's this year will help fund the specialists required. MORE NEWS Ryan Reynolds thanks supporters for 'greatest four years' in heartfelt post Sylvia added: 'I have loved volunteering for Parkinson's UK Cymru for the last 35 years. I've made lifelong friends along the way and supporting others and offering a helping hand can make a world of difference. "I urge everyone to come together and support Walk for Parkinson's in Wrexham this summer. Harry would be right in front leading the walk if he was still with us - I hope it will be a special day and I'm sure he will be looking down at us with a big smile as we continue the work to change lives for the better.' Keri McKie, Community Fundraiser for Wales at Parkinson's UK Cymru, said: 'People like Sylvia are remarkable, giving so much time to make a positive difference to other people's lives. 'Last year, the Walk for Parkinson's in Wales raised more than £27,000 with an incredible 300 walkers getting involved. Parkinson's is a complex condition, and it's different for everyone. It's important we continue to take vital steps in helping to provide and fund the care and support that's urgently needed for the 8,300 people living with the condition in Wales. 'So whether you're walking or volunteering, we look forward to welcoming Sylvia and everyone to Alyn Waters for this special day. It's the first time that our Walk series is being held in north Wales so it's the perfect time to get involved. So whether or not you're living with Parkinson's and whatever your age or fitness level, we'd love to see you in Wrexham. Take the first step and sign up today!' Walk for Parkinson's promises not only steps, but smiles too as walkers will warm up, walk and finish with other members of the Parkinson's community in Wales. It costs just £12 to sign up to Walk for Parkinson's (under 18s go free!) and the suggested sponsorship target per person is £100. All walkers will receive a fundraising pack with tips and advice, sponsorship forms and an exclusive Walk for Parkinson's t-shirt to wear on the day. The event will start and finish at Alyn Waters, Gwersyllt, with two different routes available for people to choose from. The shorter 1.7 mile route is fully accessible and suitable for everyone while the longer 6 mile route is available for participants who are looking for a bigger challenge, however this one is not appropriate for participants using a wheelchair or pushchair.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Charity warns more money is needed to help those with conditions
Parkinson's UK Cymru has urged the Welsh Government to establish a long-term funding strategy for community arts and sports. The charity warns that without this, people with chronic conditions, including Parkinson's, will face 'significant isolation, loneliness and deteriorating health outcomes.' Despite a recent £4.4 million annual top-up for the arts, Parkinson's UK Cymru believes more is needed. Dawn McGuinness, community development manager at Parkinson's UK Cymru, said: "Getting involved in the community is a lifeline for people living with Parkinson's but many cultural and sports initiatives that we and our partners organise rely on funding." A Senedd Committee report highlighted that Wales ranks third from bottom of European countries in terms of spending per person on recreational and sporting services and second from bottom for cultural services. Parkinson's UK Cymru works with partners across Wales to provide arts and sports-based support for people living with the condition. One initiative is ParkinSings, a pilot project with social enterprise Choirs For Good, which gives those with Parkinson's and their carers an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of community singing. The charity warns that without funding streams and long-term investment, many people living with chronic conditions will have limited opportunities to live well with their condition.
