Sarah Loveridge-Miller

Why I am fundraising for Parkinson's UK

On 20th September, my sister and I are taking on Pedal Wye, cycling 58 miles around the Wye Valley to raise money for Parkinson’s UK.

I knew very little about Parkinson’s before Dad was diagnosed five years ago and mainly associated it with tremors. However, Parkinson’s can affect movement, balance, sleep, memory and much more. It is a cruel disease to have, but watching someone you love go through it is also incredibly difficult. Dad’s mood is understandably affected by the disease, but one thing he hasn’t lost is his sense of humour or his determination to keep going. His grandchildren are a huge part of that. 

Exercise is an important part of managing Parkinson’s symptoms, so it seemed fitting that we should take on a cycling challenge ourselves. Dad has recently joined the local gym and is very happy to show anyone who asks how the guns are coming along 💪! More recently, he’s started walking football. Although having watched some of the footage, I’m not entirely convinced he has quite mastered the walking bit 😂

I’m five months postpartum, so I’ll be taking on the 58 miles with considerably less sleep and training than I would like. We’ve heard there are some rather spicy hills on the route too! 🌶️🚴‍♀️

I know lots of friends and family were incredibly generous when I raised money for Parkinson’s two years ago. This isn’t just about donations. It’s also about raising awareness, so thank you for reading my page.

If you can donate, every donation, no matter how big or small, will make a difference, helping Parkinson’s UK support people affected by the condition and fund research into better treatments and, ultimately, a cure. ❤️