Mel Ajibade

Why I am fundraising for Parkinson's UK

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page! I’m taking part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon for Parkinson’s UK and would really appreciate your support! 

For those of you close to me, you will understand my desire to raise as much money as possible for this wonderful charity.  To those not aware, I am doing this for my Dad.  My wonderful, big, strong Dad who I love very much.  I grew up thinking how brave he was doing his job - a trawlerman going out in all weathers to catch fish and make a living.  He used to work as a permanent RNLI crew member on the Clovelly lifeboat.  He used to act as support vessel for swimmers attempting to swim the English Channel.  And in amongst all of that, he was our Dad - funny, kind, warm, loving and fair.

After working so hard for so many years, I was really happy when he finally retired and he and Mum took a 'gap year' and moved to Fuerteventura and it was great fun to visit them and see how much they had embraced the life there.  However, when they returned in 2014, I think in all honesty, we all could tell that Dad wasn't 'right'.

He was of course subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson's.  Once again, I looked up to my Dad as a brave person, but this time, not facing rough seas, but having to face this awful disease.

I love my Dad with all my heart and always will, but this disease has robbed him of being the man he was.  It has robbed him of the pleasure of retirement, and it has also robbed my Mum of the pleasure of hers as she now spends her time caring for him.

I know that any money I can hope to raise probably won't benefit my Dad, but I would do anything I could to try and make sure that other families do not have to see a loved one suffer like this.

Please help by sponsoring my challenge. All money raised will help fund breakthroughs and help support the Parkinson's community. 

Thank you