Rugby and Bulkington MP Mark Pawsey has pledged to help improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s on World Parkinson’s Day, 11 April 2018.
Mark, who is President of the Rugby branch of Parkinson’s UK, has signed up to take part in the Parkinson’s in the Workplace training from Parkinson’s UK. The training aims to raise awareness of the challenges people with Parkinson’s face. Through the training, Mark will learn more about the progressive neurological condition, the complex symptoms people face, as well as how to recognise and best support constituents with Parkinson’s.
The push for greater awareness is part of the charity’s activity to encourage people to Unite for Parkinson’s on World Parkinson’s Day, as a survey found that 32 per cent of people with Parkinson’s have been stared at in public and 11 per cent have been laughed at. In addition, 32 per cent of people do not feel that their symptoms are socially acceptable.
Parkinson’s affects 145,000 people in the UK, which is one in 350 people in Rugby and Bulkington. With numbers of people affected expected to increase by a fifth by 2025, the charity is aiming to change attitudes about Parkinson’s to make life better for everyone living with the condition.
The Parkinson’s UK awareness training can be taken by going to:
http://parkinsons.msgfocus.com/k/Parkinsons/parkinsons_in_your_workplace
Mark said:
“It is shocking that people with Parkinson’s face so many barriers, including being mistaken for being drunk, when out in public. Many local residents will have seen some of the recent number of high profile cases in the media which have highlighted the challenges that people with Parkinson’s face whilst going about their daily lives.”
Mark continued:
“I am pleased that Parkinson’s UK are raising awareness of these issues through their Parkinson’s in the Workplace training and I would encourage all local businesses and employers to sign up to it. I know from my role as President of the Rugby branch of Parkinson’s UK just how valuable an understanding of Parkinson’s can be when speaking to those with Parkinson’s. The training which Parkinson’s UK have developed can really help to achieve this.”
Sally Dyer, Secretary of the Rugby Branch of Parkinson’s UK, added:
“It is really great that our MP and President is supporting the workplace training scheme for Parkinson's Awareness. If people in the community have a better understanding of the daily problems that our members face and how simple changes to the way people interact with them either socially or in the workplace, it would make a huge difference in helping them to live with this condition. We hope that other people will follow his example and take part in the free training sessions available through Parkinson’s UK.”