Parkinson’s Charity Benefits From Donation
A retired lady from Penwortham, has taken local fundraising into her own hands, and is behind a £500 donation to the Preston branch of Parkinson’s UK
For many years, Hilary Wheale, who suffers with Parkinson’s, has fundraised for the charity by collecting donations outside her local supermarket, Booths. She would also make raffle prizes, help out at meetings and organise guest speakers. However, Hilary has been unable to do this so far this year, due to Covid-19 restrictions.
But this hasn’t stopped her. A homeowner at the McCarthy and Stone development on Cop Lane, Penwortham, Hilary appealed to them to help the charity, which like many other charities around the country, has been struggling to raise the vital funds it needs for its continued operation.
The housebuilder, knowing the personal connection between Hilary and the charity, and how disappointed she was not to be able to fundraise in her usual way, kindly agreed to donate £500.
She comments: “I suffer with Parkinson’s and so for me the charity is a real life-line. I can chat to people who are in a similar situation to me and who understand what I’m going through. It’s helped me to see that a diagnosis doesn’t mean the end, and there are so many good people there who donate their time and efforts to supporting one another. Moving to the Hardwick Grange development, means I am able to live independently for as long as possible, but knowing support is on hand should I ever need it.”
The Preston branch of Parkinson’s UK offers information, friendship and support to local people with Parkinson’s, their families and carers. It also organises regular events and social activities. Due to Covid-19 much of its in-person activities have had to be suspended, something Hilary has been really missing.
David Brown, Chairman of the Preston branch of Parkinson’s UK comments: “We are so grateful to McCarthy and Stone and to Hilary for the offer of help. Right now, it’s incredibly important that as we’re asked to stay inside, those suffering with Parkinson’s continue to keep mobile, so funding weekly fitness and yoga classes is something we have been doing online. We’ve also introduced a dance class which has proved popular so we would like to be able to do more of this in future. We are now increasingly reliant on individual donations to allow our work to continue. This donation will help us to increase our digital services in Preston and continue the work of our local group at an increasingly difficult and uncertain time for us all.”
Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. There are around 145,000 people living with Parkinson’s in the UK in 2020. With population growth and ageing, this is likely to increase by a fifth, to around 172,000 people in the UK, by 2030.
To get in touch with the Preston branch of Parkinson’s UK and for up-to-date information about its activities visit: https://localsupport.parkinsons.org.uk/provider/preston-branch
