After our hugely successful fundraising campaign for Duchenne UK, TRAD UK has chosen its next charity and set a target of £10,000.

We are supporting Parkinson’s UK, after two employees nominated the charity because of the support it was giving family members.

The fathers of both Heidi Taylor, from TRAD’s London depot, and Vicki Hardiman-Burt, from the Andover depot, have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Vicki’s father, Dudley, was diagnosed in October 2017 at the age of just 68, and Heidi’s father, Nigel, in the last couple of years. He says:

“I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in August 2023. I have been attending the Maldon Parkinson’s group since I was diagnosed. The group and volunteers are amazing, they put in so much effort. The people are welcoming, warm, and non-judgemental. I have met some fantastic people and made some new friends. The care and support they provide really helps.”

What is Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the substantia nigra, which leads to a reduction in dopamine in the brain. Dopamine plays a vital role in regulating the movement of the body. A reduction in dopamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinson's.

There are many symptoms of Parkinson’s, but the three main symptoms affect physical movement, and can be hugely debilitating:

• Tremors, which usually begin in the hand or arm and is more likely to occur when the limb is relaxed and resting,

• Slowness of movement, where physical movements are much slower than normal, making everyday tasks difficult. This often results in a distinctive slow, shuffling walk with very small steps,

• Muscle stiffness and tension, which can make it difficult to move around and make facial expressions, and can result in painful muscle cramps.

There’s currently no cure for Parkinson’s but funding, research and increased awareness into Parkinson's and its treatments have made huge strides in recent years.

Heidi and Vicki have both been part of the TRAD CSR Team since its inception, working tirelessly to raise money for our charities over the years.

This year we will be running a range of internal and external fundraising events during the coming 12 months, to help support this important cause.