Talk in London

Tonight I will be giving a talk at the Parkinson’s Support Group in Finchley - London, and members from the British Gaucher Association who are interested, have been invited to join in for the evening. I intend resting all day, so that I will have enough energy for tonight’s speaking engagement. I look forward to seeing the organisers again, a charming vibrant couple who started this particular Group some years ago, and have been doing an amazing job, and to also meeting fellow sufferers. Who knows, maybe I’ll even come across another patient like myself who has both Gaucher and Parkinson’s. It takes a great deal of energy both physically and emotionally to speak in front of an audience when chronically ill, but I will continue public speaking for as long as I can. Hearing a patient talk to a group, from personal experience with Gaucher and Parkinson’s disease, is totally different from listening to a doctor’s speech; a person from a fundraising organisation, or simply reading about this topic. To see a patient, and hear first-hand what it is like to live with Parkinson’s gives a completely different perspective, one which fellow sufferer’s and caregivers can relate to, and for those who are unfamiliar with the disease, valuable information they might otherwise not have heard. The last time I gave a talk, I was asked if I would like to sit down, but I remained standing, despite the pain in my hips, for I have found delivering my message, holding the attention of the audience and making eye to eye contact, is much easier to achieve when standing. I see public speaking as an important way of raising awareness of both diseases. If you are coming along tonight – I look forward to seeing you, I know it will be an interesting evening.