Jenny Knapton

Why I am fundraising for Parkinson's UK

On September 13th, I will be walking the 5.6 mile route in Surrey to help fund specialist Parkinson’s care to people who urgently need it. Thousands of us are uniting to help people with Parkinson’s, and those who love and care for them, get access to the support they need. All funds raised across the Walk for Parkinson’s 2026 series will support their Nurse Appeal and the vital work of Parkinson’s health and care specialists.

My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s several years ago. When you live with a complex condition like Parkinson's, you need access to local specialists who understand the condition. Health professionals like specialist Parkinson's nurses are a lifeline for people with Parkinson's and their families. They help people to manage their medication, make referrals to other professionals, and are a continuous point of contact. 

1 in 5 people with Parkinson’s have limited or no access to the health specialists they desperately need to live well with the condition. Patients and families are often left to manage dangerous side effects from medications, whilst waiting for a specialist review. This can lead to multiple hospital admissions from falls, unresponsive episodes, orthostatic hypotension, and delirium. These symptoms can be from Parkinson’s itself, but can also result from medication side effects that require specialist input to adjust doses accordingly. 

The funds raised for the walk for Parkinson’s are explicitly directed toward their Nurse Appeal. This specific initiative aims to address severe care shortages by funding new Parkinson's specialist nurses and healthcare professionals within the NHS. Just £20 can pay for one hour of care from a specialist Parkinson's nurse. 

Please support me in raising money for a charity close to my heart ❤️, by providing essential specialist care for people living with Parkinson’s. Any donation is greatly appreciated 🫶🏼