<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p> <p>Over the years you have helped me raise an incredible &pound;25,000 for the charities; Parkinson's UK and Dreams Come True.</p> <p>This year I am once again running the Virgin London Marathon for Parkinson's UK. As you will know this is close to my heart as my Father contracted the disease 4 years ago.</p> <p>One person in every 500 has Parkinson's. Most people who get Parkinson's are aged 50 or over but younger people can get it too. One in 20 is under the age of 40.</p> <p>People with Parkinson's don't have enough of a chemical called dopamine because some nerve cells in their brain have died.</p> <p>Without&nbsp;dopamine people can find that their movements become slower so it takes longer to do things.</p> <p>The loss of nerve cells in the brain causes <a href="http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/about_parkinsons/signs_and_symptoms/the_main_symptoms.aspx">the symptoms of Parkinson's</a> to appear.</p> <p>There's currently no cure for Parkinson's and we don't yet know why people get the condition.</p> <p>Parkinson's doesn't directly cause people to die, but symptoms do get worse over time.</p> <p>Although the causes of certain <a href="http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/about_parkinsons/what_is_parkinsons/types_of_parkinsons.aspx">types of parkinsonism</a> have been identified, the cause of Parkinson's itself remains unknown.</p> <div class="box"> <div class="cite">Parkinson's occurs due to a loss of nerve cells in the brain. The symptoms of Parkinson's emerge when around 70% of cells have been lost.</div> </div> <p>It is not known why these nerve cells die.</p> <p>There is a concerning need to fund&nbsp;<a href="http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/research/current_research/what_causes_parkinsons.aspx">research exploring the causes of Parkinson's</a>. We need to know how and why certain nerve cells in the brain in Parkinson's die in order to find a cure.</p> <p>Please help me help Parkinson's UK to help fund additional research in the hope that one day a cure may be found.</p> <p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p> <p>I know its tough out there, so please&nbsp;give what you can. Even the smallest donation will be appreciated.&nbsp;</p> <p>I really appreciate your support.</p> <p>All the best, Paul</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>