Gillian Keegan MP has pledged to help improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s on World Parkinson’s Day.
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 Chichester. 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.
Steve Ford, Chief Executive of Parkinson’s UK, said: “Lack of public understanding can make simple things like getting the bus, going to work, or even heading out to the pub with friends daunting for people with Parkinson's.