Why I am fundraising for Parkinson's UK
In September 23, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. When you receive a diagnosis like this, you are left not knowing what your future holds, other than your health will deteriorate as PD is progressive, but I was uncertain of how slow or quickly that would be. PD is different for everyone, and the progression and specific symptoms vary significantly from person to person, making it a highly individualised experience. But what I have had to learn the hard way is the difficulty of balancing the medication with the PD progression, and how the side effects of the medications can impact your life and affect you. In February last year, I had terrible side effects from medication which resulted in me fainting and cracking my head open on a door frame, and this year after an 18-month slow build-up which escalated into a full-blown period of paranoid psychotic delusions during a Croatian road trip which spiralled me to somewhere I had never really understood how people could get to and a place that I had never contemplated being before and then finally a crisis situation that ultimately resulted in an intervention by my family. And afterwards, whilst trying to get medical help with my sister, I learnt from a PD Nurse that she had had four other cases of the exact specific delusion that I had experienced with patients who were on the same medication. I am happy to say that with support from my family, I am now okay and feeling more myself as I am being slowly withdrawn from the medication, and I am thankful that I am not losing my mind (yet) and that this episode experienced was medically induced. On reflection though, the seriousness of the situation has deeply upset me, with the fact that this can happen and the ripple effect that it has on your entire family when it does. The problem with PD is that it has been under the radar and underinvested by the UK government for far too long, despite it being the fastest growing neurological disorder. My family had to turn to Parkinson's UK for support during my crisis situation, and they found the service invaluable, so my family and I have decided to do the walk for Parkinson's to raise awareness, and to help to raise funds for Parkinson care, to help people with Parkinson's and those who love and care for them to get access to the support they need.
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Thank you to my sponsors
£20
Terry Hanes
£163.24
Nan, Aunty Di, Andy & Lucas
Proud of you and sending this with love and support. May every step forward be a leap to success!
£21.84
Paul Phipps
£21.84
Alison Gibson
Well done Mel, you will smash it :)
£11.33
Humam Bashir
Best of luck Mel.. I'm sure you'll do great 😊
£21.84
Simon Pateman
£21.84
Erica
Good luck on your walk Mel! Wishing you all the best xx
£10
David Mckew
£32.23
Ian Rhodes
Good Luck - i hope the route is shaded a bit.
£53.32
John Perry
Good Luck Mel, what a weekend to do it on!!
£25
Kevin Jarvey
Well Done Mel. You are an inspiration to us all. Good luck on the day.
£32.23
Darren Round
Excellent cause. Good luck with it.
£53.32
Anonymous
£52.12
Emily Jones
Good luck Mel & family - you will smash it! Dan & Emily
£11.33
Andrew Morris (amey)
£21.84
David Dalrymple
Your strength and the support of your family are inspirational. Enjoy the walk.
£11.33
Jmb
Good luck and best wishes to you
£20
Martin Ingledew
£11.33
Beverley Collins
Hi Mel, I hope the day isn't too hard for you to complete. Take it slow and you will get there. You are an inspiration to us all.
£20
David Dineen
Good luck Mel!
£10
Steve Chapman
Good luck Mel. Great Cause!
£20
Emma Green
Take lots of photos! X
£22.88
