Supporting Megan to support her dad
With the chance to raise funds for her charity of choice as part of Run Melbourne, Megan nominated Fight Parkinson’s. Hoping to raise $2,000 in the lead up to running the half marathon, she was elated to double her goal. “It was such an incredible experience doing the run, and I was blown away by the amount I […]
The two Me’s
Every morning my ‘other’ me springs out of bed bright and early, ready to face the coming day with vigour and vim. Perhaps she’ll do a wash and hang it out to dry in the lovely light breeze, cook her loved one a tasty breakfast, or potter in the garden. Perhaps pop down the street to do a little shopping or just to socialize, before […]
Living and caring with PSP
Supporting her mum, trying to understand her diagnosis, and stepping wholeheartedly into a carers role was a difficult and at times confronting experience. Bec has written a heartfelt and honest reflection of the years she and her family spent living and caring with PSP. She hopes that by sharing her story, other family members caring […]
How Fight Parkinson’s helped Wendy through diagnosis
Over a long career in physiotherapy, Wendy supported many patients living with Parkinson’s and had done all the training available to her on the condition. But none of that made her own Parkinson’s diagnosis any easier. “It’s the most badly handled thing I’ve ever come across,” she remembers. “They just gave me my diagnosis, and no one checked in on me […]
Will’s Run 4 Mum
When Will’s mum, Angela, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s five years ago, it came as a shock to the family. A bubbly, energetic, caring woman it’s been hard for the Hooper family to watch as the condition has progressed. But not one to sit still and watch, Will decided he wanted to do something positive to […]
Taking diagnosis head on from day one
To look at her life from the outside, Abby says there isn’t much that shows she has Parkinson’s, except her eagerness to tell everyone and anyone she meets. “I am not shy about sharing, if people ask me, I’ll tell them everything,” Abby said. “When I was diagnosed my neurologist was like, you can take […]
Mae was formidable, remarkable, but Progressive Supranuclear Palsy took her away too soon
These are the words of Queeny Stafford, who cared for her mum in the years before and after Mae’s diagnosis with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Queeny generously shared her story with us in the hope that other families will not feel as alone as she did, traversing the long and difficult journey to diagnosis. When […]
Retiring on your own terms
Christmas is meant to be a time of joy and festivity, even more so when it’s the first after you’ve hit retirement age but for Leigh, Christmas Eve 2013 wasn’t the day he had hoped for. After several months of worsening symptoms and concerns that a previous diagnosis of essential tremors was incorrect, 24 December […]
Masks on for Fight Parkinson’s fundraiser
Fight Parkinson’s relies on the generosity of individuals and community groups across Australia to ensure that no one is left to fight Parkinson’s alone. The Australasian Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) Nafsika Unit gathered earlier this year to raise much needed funds for Fight Parkinson’s. Niki Matziaris has spent much of her career, and more […]
Walk for PSP: Remembering and celebrating Ronda
A fiercely independent woman, Ronda dedicated her life to bringing joy to those around her. She spent four decades as a teacher and raised two daughters alongside her husband, Chris, in South Australia. Together they travelled the world, basking in new places and cultures. Ronda was adventurous, hopeful, a stickler for the rules, and most […]