<p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Hi Everyone!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Thank you for visiting our fundraising page again. &nbsp;2011 is going to be our 11th <a href="http://www.greatrun.org/Events/Event.aspx?id=1">Great North Run</a>&nbsp;and this time it&rsquo;s for <a href="http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/">Parkinsons UK</a>, following Louise&rsquo;s dad being diagnosed with the disease last December.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Parkinson&rsquo;s is a <a href="http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/about_parkinsons/what_is_parkinsons/how_parkinsons_progresses.aspx">progressive neurological condition</a>. &nbsp;It affects 1 in 500 (that's about 120,000 people in the UK) and while most people diagnosed are aged 50+, younger people can get it too. One in 20 is under the age of 40. &nbsp;Someone Louise used to work with was diagnosed when he was only 8 years old!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Symptoms vary greatly from person to person, so it might not be a slight tremor, short shuffling steps, painful rigidity or a lack of movement you notice first. &nbsp;It affects the facial muscles so it could be a loss of facial expressions, language, difficulty when swallowing food, sleeping problems, nightmares, anxiety or depression. &nbsp;What we need are new and better treatments for all these symptoms and, ultimately, a cure.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The GNR is the world's largest 13.1 mile (21km) half marathon with around 50,000 entrants. &nbsp;It&rsquo;s way up in Newcastle upon Tyne, it&rsquo;s quite hilly in places, and Newcastle to South Shields is still a pretty long way to run for a couple of &nbsp;&lsquo;old timers&rsquo; like ourselves. &nbsp;Please take a look at the <a href="http://www.greatrun.org/App_Files/Gr_Files/Bupa-Great-North-Run-2010-Route-Map-Large.jpg">course</a>&nbsp;or the time-lapsed <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/sol/newsid_6970000/newsid_6972100/6972118.stm?bw=bb&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;mp=wm&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;news=1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;bbcws=1">video</a>&nbsp;and see what lies ahead of us!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>We know we say this every year but please help us make this challenge as worthwhile as possible by sponsoring us. &nbsp;We have sponsorship forms or sponsor us online. &nbsp;Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. All donations are sent electronically to <a href="http://www.parkinsons.org.uk">Parkinson&rsquo;s UK</a> and if you&rsquo;re a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax can be reclaimed and added to your gift at no cost to you. &nbsp;So please tick the &lsquo;Gift Aid&rsquo; box and save another 28p per &pound;1 from the tax man!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Please help us make a difference to others. &nbsp;Any amount, large or small will be gratefully received. &nbsp;Every penny helps! &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Thank you for your support.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Sean and Louise x</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>