Reading and Wokingham residents talk park in Parkinson’s UK walk

On Sunday, July 7, many participants battled the wet weather to walk through Dinton Pastures Country Park.

The money raised will help fund vital research to find better treatments and a cure for the condition. 

Over £33,000 was raised on the day (Image: Parkinson's UK)

Attendees either had the choice of a two or six-mile route which took in an oasis of woodlands, meadows and lakes. 

Once they had completed their trek, they were greeted at the finishing line with medals by Parkinson’s UK staff and volunteers amid the most urbanised part of Thames Valley.

Local woman, Bev McMenemy, took part and helped raise £210 for the charity, said: “Embracing the rain and the wet but with smiles on our faces, it was great to come together at Dinton to walk six miles for Parkinson’s UK, finding strength in the stories of many families facing the same challenges as us.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the occasion (Image: Parkinson's UK)

“We were taking part for my amazing dad (who was also marshalling) and the many one million other people affected by this degenerative disease.

“It was great fun to get out in the fresh air exercising with others, a sea of blue t-shirts descended on the park and it gave us a sense of achievement and of giving something back to such a great cause.

“We raised just over £210.

“The event was well organised and supported and I would recommend others to give it a go.”

Parkinson’s is what happens when the brain cells that make dopamine start to die.

There are more than 40 symptoms, from tremors and pain to anxiety.

The sun eventually came out on July 7 (Image: Parkinson's UK)

Some are treatable, but the drugs can have serious side effects.

It gets worse over time and there’s no cure.

Katherine Dennis, Community Fundraiser for the South at Parkinson’s UK, added: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Walk for Parkinson’s at Dinton Pastures, as well as all the volunteers who made the event possible. 

“Parkinson’s UK estimates that around 153,000 people in the UK are living with Parkinson’s, including approximately 610 people in Wokingham and Reading.

“The amazing efforts of everyone who took part in Walk for Parkinson’s has helped us drive forward the groundbreaking research we urgently need to transform the lives of people affected by the condition.”

To find out more about fundraising for Parkinson’s UK please visit: www.parkinsons.org.uk/fundraising.