Staff help provide a ‘lifeline’ for sufferers
11 March 2019
AN organisation providing a valuable social lifeline for people with Parkinson’s Disease* and their carers has received a financial helping hand from Leek United staff.
The Parkinson’s UK Leek Support Group meets fortnightly in Leek and runs a range of activities including exercise sessions, talks, entertainment, lunches and outings for its 40 members.
And a £500 donation from the Society’s Mortgage Operations team will now go towards supporting the cost of these activities.
Treasurer Barbara Edwards – whose late husband, David, suffered from Parkinson’s – said: “Aside from the physical symptoms, Parkinson’s can also affect sufferers’ cognition, mood and behaviour, all of which can place a lot of stress on carers¬, too.
“Our group only meets once a fortnight, but as much as anything it exists to reassure members that they are not coping alone.
“This generous gift from Leek United will help us to continue to provide a varied range of social activities and outings, as well as talks and practical advice, and we are very grateful.”
Colleagues from the Society’s Mortgage Operations team presented the Support Group with a cheque for £500 during one of their Thursday meetings at Beth Johnson Sheltered Housing in Mount Pleasant, Leek.
The money was raised by staff organising and taking part in a number of activities throughout 2018, including: a fashion show, an Easter extravaganza, cake and knitting sales, raffles, a ‘bake off’ competition, and much more.
Mortgage Operations Manager Jackie Derrett said: “In addition to Parkinsons UK Leek Support Group, we also chose to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Chris Parr Memorial Fund/Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), who have also each recently received £500 from us.
“Apart from the pleasure of knowing the money is going to such worthy causes, all staff have really enjoyed getting involved, we’ve had a great time doing it, and it’s been brilliant for team-building and morale.”
*Parkinson's Disease is a progressive neurological condition. It is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system.
The number of people diagnosed with Parkinson's in the UK is about 145,000 – around one adult in every 350.
Members of Parkinson’s UK Leek Support Group receive the cheque from Leek United’s Mortgage Operations team.
