My Mum, Lesley Howett was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease on 1st April 2009. Since being diagnosed, my Mum has been such an inspiration by proving to everyone that having Parkinson Disease won’t stop her from doing what she want's and in support of her achievements, I have decided to arrange a fundraising skydive to raise lots of money for Parkinson’s UK as well as raising the awareness of Parkinson's Disease.

We have a group of 16 brave volunteers to take part in a Skydive at Peterlee (Shotton )Airfield.

Unfortunatly due to the bad weather only 4 out of the group of 16 have managed to complete the Skydive so far.  The rest of the group are planning on doing the skydive later on in April (dependent on the lovely British weather).  Thank you for all your kind donations so far we really appreciate all the support we are getting but please if you haven't yet sponsored please do, every little helps to get a step closer to finding the cure of Parkinson's Disease. Big thanks from all the Leapers!!!  I will keep you all updated and keep posting photos. 

My mum wrote this short story for Newcastle BBC Radio and I thought I would share it with everyone.  For those who don't really know how Parkinson's UK can affect people this is a must read!!

I don't mind at all about you asking about my back ground, so here goes ................ I was diagnosed with PD on April 1st 2009 (some April fools day that was) at the age of 49, my first symptoms started about 5-6 years before that.  I work as a receptionist for Newcastle City Council at a Leisure Facility (Centre for Sport, West Road) the only thing i struggle with at work is my writing, I am sure that you will understand just how frustrating it can be when I am taking telephone messages, before I am able to pass the message on I can sometimes rewrite it about 5 or 6 times before I am confident that my colleagues will be able to read it. 
 
When my symptoms began I went to see my GP I explained how I felt, the stiffness in my neck and shoulder which caused pain when driving or at work when serving customers at my reception desk. How slow my movements were, making it difficult in putting on clothes, blow drying my hair and putting on makeup became near impossible to do.  The simplest of daily tasks such as brushing my teeth, putting on a seat belt became impossible.  I would lie in bed and think to myself today I shall move around faster I'm not going to be slow, the day would go by and I was slow, I was in pain I would go to bed and think tomorrow it will be different, I would struggle making meals for my husband and two daughters, cooking for my family is so important to me but as the weeks passed I was unable to do less and less, couldn't peel a potato, couldn't whisk an egg, couldn't make pastry couldn't even butter a slice of bread.  Each visit to the doctors I would have another symptom to tell him such as I had no sense of smell, a strange sensation in my left hand index finger how I couldn't turn over in bed, things I took for granted, he would just listen and nod I would go home feeling that there was nothing wrong with me that it was all in my head and that I was going insane.  So I stopped going to the surgery, instead I 'buried my head in the sand' even when things got so bad and I found I was unable to clap my hands, wave goodbye, brush my teeth or even use a knife and fork.

I was so preoccupied in hiding my symptoms pretending I was ok I didn't see what I was turning into, I had lost the confident women who loved life, loved to socialise, adored shopping,  who had so much to offer turning into a quiet, sad person who was frightened always stressed and anxious, stopped shopping because that meant I would have to try and pack a bag, maybe try on clothes and the main one open a purse and try and grasp hold of money to pay. 

It was my manager at work who took me to one side and told me what deep down I knew that I needed to see someone to find out what was wrong with me, I know now that she suspected PD before me.  I had no knowledge of the condition, never went on the internet to google my symptoms but with what I know now it still amazes me that my text book symptoms never registered with my GP well that's what I thought but I was told that he did put on my medical notes 'possible Parkinson's disease'.  The next day after my talk with Marguerite (manager) I opened up to a young female doctor and told her everything.  That was the start of my parkinson journey, I was referred to the RVI, diagnosed, went through emotions (& still going through them) such as grief, accepting the condition and anger, deciding to be part of a research project, joining a local active persons branch of P UK, finding the right medication and then well enough to return to work (sickness leave for 11 months).  I found that my confidence was returning and I knew that hey I have still so much to offer.  I returned to work with enthusiasm and commitment, I love my job and I like to think it shows in the service I give.

I feel a lot of guilt that i was so wrapped up in my illness that I didn't see the pain that my family were going through, but the most important thing that I have discovered is that I have the most wonderful family, the support I receive from my husband who I know still finds it hard to accept, my two beautiful daughters who have protected me, who have stood by and been so strong for me.  My lovely parents who don't understand why it was me that PD choose and not them, my two brothers and there families that make sure I never loose my sense of humour.  I have met wonderful people in people with PD, doctors and nurses and one thing I am sure of is that we will find a cure and belonging to a marvellous charity surrounded by wonderful people I think that I'm a lucky special person who just happens to be (at this moment) living with a condition called Parkinson's.
 
I know I have gone on and on but once I started I couldn't stop....blame the medication lol I do hope you find this helpful, I am lucky, I don't suffer with PD as bad as some people, my medication is working, I am able to work, I am proactive in fundraising I know I still have bad days but on the whole being active and keeping positive helps me.

Lesley

This is why it is so important to raise the awareness of Parkinson's UK and raise as much money to find a cure so other people suffering with Parkinson's UK don't have to go through the same thing as my Mum.  But hey ho everything happens for a reason and my Mum is a much stronger and confident person now then she has ever been!!! Big thanks to all the support she has recieved and to Parkinson's UK.  

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