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To find out more about Parkinson's UK please go to:

Or write to: Parkinson's UK, 215 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1EJ

Or call:020 7931 8080听

Before my father was diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 I really knew very little about it. I had a vague idea on some of the symptoms but not much about the treatment or his prognosis and I certainly didn鈥檛 realise how serious it was. The diagnosis hit听Dad like a ton of bricks. He declined at an alarming speed. Every time I saw him he looked more frail and he struggled so much with the simplest of tasks.

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It had a huge impact on my mother. Dad quickly became heavily dependent on her and Parkinson鈥檚 dominated every part of their life.听 Mum was looking after him at home, but it was so tough on both of them.

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That鈥檚 why I recognise the real value of Parkinson鈥檚 specialist nurses who have helped so many people manage their condition better and so have the best possible quality of life. The care these Parkinson鈥檚 specialist nurses give really makes such a difference. But there aren鈥檛 enough to go round. Some people with Parkinson鈥檚 never see one. Never benefit from that specialist care. This Lifeline appeal will help us change that. Please help us put another 50 nurses in post and help people with Parkinson鈥檚 live the best lives they can.

Every hour in the UK, someone is diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 鈥� a condition that can strike anyone, at any time. Although the causes are unknown, what is clear is the devastating impact this progressive condition can have on the lives of those forced to live with it and those around them.

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People with Parkinson鈥檚 can have a tremor or stiffness that makes it difficult or impossible to do everyday things like eating, getting dressed or even picking up and playing with their kids.听 And it doesn鈥檛 just affect movement.听 Pain, depression, anxiety, sleep and speech problems can also have a huge impact on people with Parkinson鈥檚. Symptoms can change from day to day and hour to hour, making life incredibly frustrating.

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For some, Parkinson鈥檚 can be living hell. As yet we don鈥檛 have a cure 鈥� but we can transform lives right now through the care of our specialist Parkinson鈥檚 nurses.

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The expert medical and emotional support our nurses provide enables people to manage their symptoms and stay independent, instead of being trapped at home. Parkinson鈥檚 nurses also help people to avoid unnecessary and distressing stays in hospital, through specialist care that prevents problems from becoming a crisis.听 And our nurses also help families to cope with the huge challenges of caring for someone with the condition, organising everything from counselling to respite care.

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Time and time again, people tell us that Parkinson鈥檚 nurses are an absolute lifeline. However, we just don鈥檛 have enough nurses for everyone who needs their care.

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We desperately need more Parkinson鈥檚 nurses now.

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We estimate that there are 17,500 people living with Parkinson鈥檚 across the UK without any access to a specialist nurse. To put this right we need a minimum of 50 additional Parkinson鈥檚 nurses to deliver the most basic standards of care to those living with this devastating condition. Your donation can help make that happen and provide care that really does change lives. Together we can make sure no one faces Parkinson鈥檚 alone.

Sarah aged forty-two, was diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 two years ago. She lives in South West London with her husband and two children. Not realising that Parkinson鈥檚 affects a considerable amount of younger people, Sarah was left in complete shock and with the frightening prospect of an uncertain future living with the condition.

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鈥淚 think it was the biggest shock of my life. But after being diagnosed, all I could think about was my children鈥�.听

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Feeling quite lonely and isolated by her condition Sarah tried to continue living her life as normal and only told close friends and family what she was going through on a day-to-day basis.听

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鈥淲hen I听went on听the school run, I didn鈥檛 tell any of the mums there at all鈥�.

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Realising that she needed a different approach to her condition for the sake of her children, Sarah decided to get help and through the charity found out that there was a specialised Parkinson鈥檚 UK nurse in her area.

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鈥淪he was the first person that I had met, in the medical profession who actually understood what I was going through鈥�.

Seventy-seven year old Peter Baker has lived with Parkinson鈥檚 for the last 12 years. Having being diagnosed with the condition whilst still working as a travelling salesman, Peter realised that his symptoms of tremors and fatigue were too much to continue with the active pace of his job.

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鈥淲ell I was dragging my feet, and had the shakes and I got tired very easily鈥�.

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Peter鈥檚 outlook for his retirement had dramatically changed after being diagnosed and the plans that he had made with his wife became more and more difficult to achieve.

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鈥淲e had it all mapped out really, but of course that had to eventually go by the board鈥�.

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After campaigning for one in his area, Peter tells us how big an impact having a Parkinson鈥檚 UK nurse has had in helping him manage the condition on a daily basis.

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鈥淚t saves a lot of time and brought a lot of relief to everybody鈥�.