The Geelong voices driving Parkinson’s awareness

TWO Geelong residents are sharing their stories in the hope of spreading awareness for one of Australia’s fastest growing neurological diseases.

John Eren and Sean Atkinson live with Parkinson’s disease and have stepped up as ambassadors for Fight Parkinson’s annual A Walk in the Park.

The event aims to bring broader understanding of the condition to the community and raise funds to support those living with the condition.

Eren said community understanding and education is essential in helping people get diagnosed early.

“It’s being picked up on a lot more now because doctors have been trained in it to pick up on the diagnosis,” he said.

“There’s no blood test for it but there are certain symptoms that indicate what it is.

“It’s important to highlight Parkinson’s to the wider community because if people are aware of the symptoms, they can pick up on them with their family.

“It’s not just the individual themselves, it’s the family and friends that can notice. My family and friends picked up on my walking for example which got me to go to the doctor.”

Initially private with his diagnosis, the former MP went public with his diagnosis in 2020 before his symptoms led him to leave politics in 2022.

Eren’s symptoms impact his life daily and with no cure, he continues to do everything in his power to slow its progression.

“It has progressed, I can feel it,” he said.

“It’s a degenerative disease and every day it becomes harder to walk, it’s harder to talk, it’s hard to do everything.”

Atkinson was shocked when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 36.

With no family history of the condition, he represents the rising population of people under 50 being diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Atkinson has been a tireless advocate for people living with Parkinson’s and is an active participant in research and community events.

Working to raise the profile of the condition, he said events such as A Walk in the Park play an important role in making the Parkinson’s community more visible.

“We need our voice to be heard and for people to see what the Parkinson’s community is like and how it’s building, because there are so many people in our community who are touched by Parkinson’s disease who may not know,” he said.

“It’s not something that most people come out and openly discuss. It’s historically been a hidden illness because of the stigma that is attached to it.”

Fight Parkinson’s supports people living with Parkinson’s through research, education and community programs.

The Geelong walk will be held on 4 May at Eastern Park.