Parkinson’s group to hear of work by leading researcher

A top researcher from Sheffield University will be the guest speaker at a special afternoon organised by the Newark District branch of Parkinson’s UK today (Monday).

Dr Heather Montiboys is a Parkinson’s UK senior res-earch fellow based at Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience.

She will speak about her work researching how approved drugs, which are already being used for other conditions, could potentially help people with Parkinson’s Disease — a progressive neurological condition that causes problems in the brain.

The afternoon has been organised by the Newark branch, which was set up in 2002 and has about 40 members.

They include Mr Michael Butt, a semi-professional organist, who was diagnosed in 2001.

He said he knew there was a problem when be began to struggle with a piece he was to play at a wedding.

"Normally if I practised three or four times it would be perfect but I just couldn’t get it right," he said.

Mr Butt said it was a shock when he was told he had Parkinson’s.

"Like most people I didn’t know anything about it," he said.

Mr Butt suffers a loss of balance and impaired movement, but is still able to play the organ at church.

Retired ambulance man Mr David Bartle was diagnosed 11 years ago.

He realised something was wrong when all the photographs he took at a friend’s birthday party were blurred.

He also started to suffer from tremors and a frozen shoulder.

Mr Bartle said the condition meant that everything he did was much slower than before.

"I am not able to do things I used to do and it can be frustrating," he said.

Mrs Pat Longmate was diagnosed in 2009 after noticing a tremor in her left hand as she walked into Newark.

After two visits to her GP, she was referred to Mansfeld Community Hospital for a diagnosis.

She is now able to get help from the Parkinson’s Disease Clinic at Newark Hospital every Tuesday.

"I have a walking stick to help but I also suffer with a stiff lower back, which can be very painful," she said.

Members of the group aim to provide friendship, support, information, and understanding, as well as social contact.

The branch is run by volunteers — people who have Parkinson’s, their carers and families and friends, and is supported by Parkinson’s UK.

They meet on the third Monday of each month, from 2pm until 4pm, at the Salvation Army Centre, Mead Way, Balderton.

As well as speakers, they organise trips and events, boccia, exercise sessions, lunches and short breaks.

Monday’s event will be at the Salvation Army Centre from 2pm. It is open to everyone, including sufferers, relations, carers and friends.