We are walking the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Fort William (96 miles) and raising funds for Parkinson’s Disease – Blimey, who’s idea was this?! We have chosen to donate to the Parkinson’s Research group, Department of Neuroscience,​​ the University of Sheffield. In partnership with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, they are assessing new drugs for their ability slow down the progression of the disease. Martin and Joanna have known each other for 20 years, have travelled to many places together, and shared many adventures. Martin was diagnosed in 2016 with Parkinson's; This is his story: 

“Ironically, for a hillwalker, my first indication I may have Parkinson’s was when somebody suggested I was walking with a limp. I wasn’t, I was dragging my left leg. That, combined with a slight tremor in my left hand as I lay in bed, caused me to visit my GP. That was November 2015. February 2016 it was confirmed. I had Parkinson’s. The bad news. There is no cure & it will get progressively worse to the point of being impossible to walk or even stand, eventually requiring around-the-clock nursing care. The “good” news. It was identified early & I seem to have a slow rate of deterioration. 

I am often asked what the symptoms are. The fact is, no two people have identical symptoms. You can take your pick from tremors, loss of balance, loss of sense of smell, fretting, dry eyes, memory loss, drooling, erratic sleep patterns, memory loss, lack of concentration, lack of coordination (using a knife & fork together becomes a real ordeal). The list goes on! I know I put “memory loss” twice, just testing. 

I have taken part in many research studies & continue to do so. One of my frustrations is that most research is aimed at early diagnosis. A greater focus on finding a cure, or at least slowing the progression down, would benefit me and other sufferers. It is my hope that any funds Jo & myself can raise, for staggering along the West Highland Way, would be donated to research targeted in this direction”