My name is Philip Batchelor. I am 76. I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2013 and since then I have been committed to finding some way of preventing the ongoing progress of the disease as it further impacts my body and my ability to live an active and fulfilling life.

I have always felt frustrated by the advice from my neurological consultant with whom I get some fifteen minutes every six months, and the only question he asks me is whether I need any more medication. There is absolutely no conversation of possible ways of reducing the limitations that I currently endure, so I have spent the last five years avidly researching alternative methods of treatment and have found a considerable amount of information, predominantly from the United States, on different protocols that have huge success rates. This has led me to further investigate two significant organisations, one of which is based upon dietary healing, and the other is based on replacing my current medication with natural amino-acid remedies.

I am in the process of implementing the dietary changes because I believe them to be essentially health improving and will benefit both my gut and brain.

The amino-acid program is an intense five to seven month course during which I will come off the NHS Dopamine medication, Sinemet, which has become less effective over time at treating my shakes and giving me daily energy. The key aspect of the program is replacing the Dopamine medication with natural supplements. This will then allow my brain to start producing its own natural supply of Dopamine. Five to seven months of daily monitoring and weekly video calls to my doctor in the US make up much of this cost. This is the one part of my ongoing treatment that I can't do myself and where their expertise at monitoring patients such as myself is crucial to the success of this project and my well-being.

My own research has led me to make changes to my diet, I have naturally always been keen on outdoor exercise but I can no longer run sadly but I continue to walk as much as possible. Despite my shaking hands and decreased energy levels I am still able to do four half days of light gardening work per week, which is wonderful. Research has also led me to a number of key supplements which help with energy supply and are known to improve the quality and abundance of the mitochondria in my brain. So in that respect I am thankfully in considerably better condition than other people I know with the disease.

The simple fact is, that according to all the statistics, I am likely to end up in a nursing home within the next three to five years and I am not keen to go down that road. Currently I completely look after myself, I continue to cook for myself, and garden for friends and neighbours, I maintain a good social life and continue to read and learn. However time is running out and I know inside myself that this is probably the last chance I have to be able to participate in a demanding program such as this. So I stand now on the threshold of a major opportunity to free myself from the mainly limitations of Parkinson's Disease and absolutely thrilled at the thought of getting underway with this exciting program that will offer me a new lease of life.

I live in a rented studio flat. My possessions are now wonderfully slimmed down. I am in a stable financial situation, but the simple fact is I have no capital resources hence my big request your contribution towards this £6,400 sum. Thank you for reading my story, any contribution would be hugely appreciated.

If I am successful in securing the necessary funds, I will be posting regular video updates on my progress in this battle against Parkinson's Disease.

Yours Sincerely,

Philip Batchelor.