Martin Docherty-Hughes, MP for West Dunbartonshire, is backing a major charity campaign to shine a spotlight on Parkinson’s, to improve understanding of and change attitudes towards the condition.
Parkinson’s UK Parkinson’s Is campaign, which launches on World Parkinson’s Day (11 April), aims to change public misconceptions about the condition by highlighting the reality of everyday life for those living with it and their families.
Over 80 landmarks across Scotland are lighting up blue for Parkinson’s awareness, including two in West Dunbartonshire – the Titan Crane in Clydebank and Lomond Galleries in Alexandria.
Parkinson’s is a serious neurological condition with more than 40 symptoms that affects people of all ages. It causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time. Currently there is no cure. 12,400 people in Scotland have Parkinson’s and about 30 people are diagnosed each week.
But according to recent research from Parkinson’s UK, 8 in 10 people with Parkinson’s believe that awareness and understanding is low because people don’t consider it to be a serious condition – and only associate it with one symptom – a tremor.
West Dunbartonshire’s MP Martin Docherty-Hughes is urging local residents to visit the Parkinson’s UK website www.parkinsons.org.uk/parkinsons-is to learn more about the condition
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP said:
“Parkinson’s disease is a serious condition that impacts thousands of families across Scotland, including many in Clydebank, Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven.
“I’m pleased that two of our local landmarks – the Titan Crane and Lomond Galleries – will be lit up in support of Parkinson’s awareness.
“One in 37 of us will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s in our lifetime, and I’m proud to support the campaign to challenge widely held misconceptions about the condition.
“I urge local residents across West Dunbartonshire to visit the charity’s website to find out more about how they can get involved in Parkinson’s Is.”
Annie Macleod, Scotland Director of Parkinson’s UK, said:
“Despite the fact that Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer’s, many people still don’t understand what Parkinson’s is or how it affects people.
“We hope our new Parkinson’s Is campaign which sees people across Scotland and the rest of the UK share how the condition affects their lives will raise awareness and help correct public misconceptions about this much misunderstood condition.
“We’re grateful for the support of Martin Docherty-Hughes MP to help bring this message to a wider audience and help change the lives of thousands of people in Scotland and the UK for the better.”
For more information about charity Parkinson’s UK’s new Parkinson’s Is campaign visit: www.parkinsons.org.uk/parkinsons-is
