CHERYL YONG
Parkinson’s Queensland is urging Queensland motorists to peel off their registration stickers this month for ‘Peel Off For Parkinson’s’.
CEO of Parkinson’s Queensland Helen Crew said Queenslanders can support Parkinson disease by donating to Parkinson’s Queensland as they peel off their registration stickers.
“Parkinson’s Queensland provides support in information, education, awareness, advocacy and research for the Parkinson’s community. That’s seventeen thousand people with Parkinsons disease in Queensland,” Ms Crew said.
There’s approximately 80,000 Australians with Parkinson disease, with a 17% increase since 2006 in those over 50.
It is estimated numbers will continue to increases by 4% per year and will have doubled by 2030.
Ms Crew said recent findings have shown Parkinson’s is now affecting more younger people.
“It’s often that people get it from over 60 years of age, but we are finding that Parkinson has been presenting itself more into younger people,” she said.
“There are around 20% [of people] with Parkinson are of working age that are in their late 30s and early 40s.”
Parkinson’s Queensland believes people living with Parkinson’s and their families are individuals with equal value to all other members of Australian Society.
Ms Crew said the donations will go towards funding the ongoing research to find better treatment, offer better support services and improve sufferers quality of life.
“There are many researchers around the world wanting to find a cure… A lot of researchers are trying to find out whether there is a genetic link or a link to pesticide. The research is still happening,” she said.
People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of a chemical called dopamine due to some nerve cells in their brain having died.
Without it, sufferers will find their movements are slower and thus it takes longer to do things, such as walking, swallowing and speaking.
For more information or to donate please go to peeloffforparkinsons.com.
