"Without Parkinson’s NSW, life would be a lot tougher.”
In her early 50s, schoolteacher Wendy suddenly found she was tired, all the time. She’d lost a considerable amount of weight, without really trying and a flu she caught on holiday with her husband just never went away.
That’s when her doctor gave her the news no one wants to hear: “I think it’s Parkinson’s.”
The news was a huge shock to the couple and their teenage children. With a busy family life and a job where people depended on her, now it was Wendy who needed support. She found it, at Parkinson’s NSW.
“I went to an information day and I was so impressed – I knew this was an organisation that knew what they were talking about. I’ve been in touch with them ever since.”
A diagnosis of Parkinson’s can take people to a dark place. It can feel disempowering and frightening. It can feel very lonely.
At Parkinson’s NSW, we act as a support crew for people like Wendy and their families. We wrap them with services, people and information to help them find their path forward. It’s our mission to make sure nobody has to struggle with their diagnosis alone.
You are the reason we can be here today for people like Wendy. Your donation helps to make sure we can keep supporting people to navigate the challenges of Parkinson’s in the years ahead.
Parkinson’s is one of the most common neurological conditions in our community. Troublingly, it’s also on the rise.
It’s also one of the most misunderstood conditions. As Wendy discovered when she started researching, Parkinson’s symptoms are incredibly wide ranging. They can include motor issues like tremors, gut problems, speech and swallowing issues as well as non-motor symptoms such as brain fog, anxiety, apathy and depression.
People with Parkinson’s without the right supports can withdraw from social interactions, anxious about how they might look or sound, or because they struggle to keep up with conversations.
It’s a natural response – but research tells us that maintaining social connections is one of the most beneficial things you can do for Parkinson’s.
It’s why we champion local support groups, like the one we helped Wendy to find in her area. We know how important it is to have people to talk to who really understand what you’re going through – because they’re going through it too.
Getting involved with the group helped Wendy feel more confident about life with Parkinson’s.
“I enjoy helping other people and I believe there’s no point in keeping things to yourself. It’s great to have other people to bounce ideas off.”
Helping us to support groups like Wendy’s is just one way you can make a real difference in the life of a person with Parkinson’s. Your donation today helps us ensure that there’s always someone nearby to talk to who “gets” Parkinson’s.
Reaching out to Parkinson’s NSW was one of the best things Wendy did, she says. We helped her access NDIS funding, and when she started exploring advanced treatment options recently, including Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), we were one of her first ports of call for clear, unbiased information.
“Parkinson's is the sort of condition where one person’s symptoms can be totally different from another person’s. Parkinson’s NSW know exactly where to point you and who to point you to.”
Having Parkinson’s has changed Wendy’s outlook in many ways, she says. In 2023, she and her husband went on a long overseas holiday together. As she says, “If something comes up, I try to do it immediately. I don’t wait for later.”
She’s also keen to do everything she can to give back to the Parkinson’s NSW community, including taking on the Step Up Challenge later this year.
People like Wendy inspire me so much in the way they take on life with Parkinson’s. It’s at the heart of what do here at Parkinson’s NSW – helping people live their best life with this condition.
I’m proud to say we’ve achieved a lot over the past few years, thanks to you. But while demand for our services is increasing significantly, the modest amount of government funding we receive is dropping far behind the community’s needs.
Put simply – we need you more than ever. I believe that every single person with Parkinson’s deserves our help, when they ask. With your support today, we can make sure they get it.
Thank you so much for your support.
Mary Kay Walker
CEO, Parkinson's NSW
You're not alone with Parkinson's
