Rhys Hughes

Why I am fundraising for Parkinson's UK

On 7th June, my wife Sarah, our sons Ted and Alex, and I will be walking 5km in Mote Park, Maidstone to raise money for Parkinson's UK.

This cause is deeply personal to us.

When Sarah and I first got together, we thought my parents had a wonderful retirement ahead of them. They were active, adventurous and full of life. Family walks around places like Capel Curig and Cwm Idwal in Snowdonia became legendary because Mum and Dad would charge ahead and leave the rest of us struggling to keep up.

Then everything changed.

Just three months after retiring, my Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. A couple of years later, my Mum received the same diagnosis and was forced to retire early too.

Over the next decade, we watched Parkinson's slowly take them away from us.

It destroyed my Dad's body. He eventually passed away in August 2023 following complications from Parkinson's and Covid.

Today, Parkinson's-related dementia has taken away the person my Mum once was. She is still here, but the vibrant, intelligent and independent woman who raised me has been stolen by this cruel disease.

Ted is old enough to remember the Nanny and Daidi who took him on adventures and made him laugh. Alex isn't. He has no memories of the people they once were.

That's why we're taking part in this walk.

We're raising money to support people and families living with Parkinson's today, and to help fund the research that could one day stop other families experiencing the heartbreak that ours has endured.

If you're able to donate, no matter how small the amount, we'd be incredibly grateful.

Together, we can help put an end to this cruel disease.