People with Parkinson's Disease across the Mid North Coast will celebrate World Parkinson's Day (11 April) with a variety of events and education opportunities, including a week-long trivia game at Coffs Harbour Health Campus.
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World Parkinson's Day provides Australians with opportunities to learn more about the issues facing the 80,000 people who are currently living with Parkinson's in Australia.
During April, members of the 72 Support Groups of Parkinson's NSW will be out in force, rallying support, holding BBQ's, hosting morning teas and events, and providing information and education opportunities.
Parkinson's is a progressive, degenerative condition of the central nervous system. Its causes are unknown and a cure has not yet been found.
The Coffs Harbour Young People with Parkinson's (YPP) support group will host a Parkinson's trivia quiz every day from 8 to 11 April, in the main foyer of the Coffs Harbour Health Campus (CHHC), with staff from the Hospital and people with Parkinson's competing in the four-day trivia game.
Spokesperson for the YPP support group, Trevor Lyons, said getting out in public to raise awareness on World Parkinson's Day was very important to the group.
"So many people don't realise how prevalent Parkinson's is right here in our own community, or how much support for people living with Parkinson's is provided by for-purpose organisations like Parkinson's NSW," Mr Lyons said.
People with Parkinson's and their family and carers are also invited to attend a special group walk on Thursday 11 April, from Westport Park boat ramp (Port Macquarie) to the CWA rooms at Town Green, where a morning tea will be provided. Parkinson's NSW Chief Executive Officer Jo-Anne Reeves and local Specialist Parkinson's Nurse Rachael Mackinnon will participate in the walk, which will commence at 10am.
There are currently three Specialist Parkinson's Neurological Nurses working in regional NSW. With the increasing number of people being diagnosed with Parkinson's and long waitlists for people to access medical help, the need for specialist nurses to support people in regional communities is becoming greater. The organisation's goal is to have another five nurses placed in regional NSW communities by 2022.
For more information about Parkinson's NSW and local Parkinson's Support Groups, make a free call to the Parkinson's NSW InfoLine on 1800 644 189.
