The charity supports people with Parkinson’s, as well as their families, through social connection, walk-in clinics, sport and community events.
Over the last five years, it has grown from offering two activities a week up to 16 today, with more on the way.
Members can now enjoy a wide range of activities, from padel tennis and walking football to tai chi and manicure sessions – even boxing is on the agenda. The charity is in the process of introducing various walking sports and petanque.
‘We are having this kind of momentum with all the activities we are implementing, so we are kind of on a rocket. I remember when I joined people were very shy to say that they have Parkinson’s, and lots of people were imagining people with Parkinson’s in a wheelchair – actually, lots of people are running and doing pickleball and entering tournaments in padel tennis,’ said the charity’s chief executive Melanie Hardouin.
‘We are much more visible now. I’m glad because we are providing support to a large spectrum of people with Parkinson’s, everybody from the newly-diagnosed to those further down the journey.’
At the celebration, Parkinson’s nurse specialists Debbie Robilliard and Vikki de Heaume talked through five sets of five top tips for maintaining physical and mental health when living with Parkinson’s.
They were followed by the neuro outpatient physios Michelle Young and Sam Bewey demonstrating five movements that people with Parkinson’s can perform daily and got everyone involved.
They gave them various Guernsey-inspired names, such as the ‘cheerie’, ‘donkey push,’ ‘Guernsey grapevine,’ ‘bean jar box-step,’ and ‘throw back the ormer.’
The charity is looking with positivity to the future.
‘I’m hoping that everybody with Parkinson’s will be joining us.
‘But I understand there is a moment where sometimes there is a moment of denial, and you want to stay away from anything Parkinson’s-related, but it’s just for them to know that we’re here whenever they need it,’ said Miss Hardouin.
The last speaker was the charity’s patron, Lady Louise Cripwell, wife of the Lt-Governor.
‘If you’re going to have Parkinson’s, boy, this is the place to have it.
‘The access that [they] hopefully all have to all of this care and attention, not only from the medical profession but also the team here at Parkinson’s Guernsey, has just got to help,’ she said.
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