The Movers and Shakers Group Singing Group performing at Tulip Cream tea event
Delicious food, singing, raising awareness and camaraderie were all part of a local event centred around Parkinson's disease.
A Tulip Cream Tea event and fundraiser was held on Tuesday afternoon at the Rotorua Bowling Pavilion in the Government Gardens by Parkinson's NZ Central Plateau.
The event included afternoon tea, four songs performed by the Movers and Shakers Singing Group, speakers and a Counter Punch demonstration.
Parkinson's is a progressive neurodegenerative condition. It is caused by insufficient quantities of dopamine - a chemical in the brain.
Dopamine enables quick, well-coordinated movement, and when dopamine levels fall, movements become slow and awkward.
Parkinson's has both motor and non-motor symptoms, and while it cannot be cured, it can be treated.
The three main symptoms are tremor, stiffness and slowness of movement, but people may experience other symptoms.
Parkinson's Central Plateau Action Group volunteer Karen Gibson says this is the first year the group has held the Tulip Cream Tea event, and the turnout was marvellous.
There was a great turnout to the Tulip Cream Tea event. Photo / Shauni James
Karen says she was diagnosed with Parkinson's 18 months ago, but when she thinks back it was about seven years ago she first started getting symptoms.
She says she could not turn over in bed and so lost a lot of weight, thinking that would help. However, the problem did not go away. After this she was diagnosed.
Karen says the order of her symptoms were loss of smell, a slight tremor in her left leg then a bad tremor in her left arm, slowness of her left side when walking, unable to swing arm, and dragging her foot.
Karen says there is medication you can take to reduce symptoms, but it does not stop the progress of the disease. She says people do not die of it, but die with it.
"You don't get all the symptoms, just an unlucky dip."
She says there are a lot of things she has difficulty doing now with Parkinson's, such as anything near floor level and housework like vacuuming.
"When I see people in wheelchairs I get upset. I think 'I'm heading in that direction'."
Walking, exercise hoop, stretching, exercycle and aqua jogging are exercises she does.
"Exercise is important for people with Parkinson's as it helps with body movement."
The Movers and Shakers Singing Group performing. Photo / Shauni James
Nigel attended the event and says he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease four years ago, although looking back his symptoms were present 20 years ago.
Back then the first thing he noticed was having difficulty with getting up from confined spaces.
Other symptoms have included shaking hands and loss of finger dexterity. He says he has difficulty getting out of bed, loss of ability to turn book and newspaper pages, and that dressing has become more and more frustrating.
He also recently started avoiding drives outside of familiar areas.
"Getting in and out of a car and maintaining balance is a becoming a nuisance."
Nigel says the Parkinson's Central Plateau group is helpful in encouraging exercise, and his exercises at home include the likes of using of a punching bag.
"A part from frustration and loss of motivation, I can be thankful I didn't have Parkinson's disease from an earlier age and that I have no pain."
He says he is also thankful for all the support he receives from his very caring wife.
Parkinson's NZ Central Plateau community educator Fiona Leighton says raising awareness is important so they can reach people who may not be engaged with their services yet, in order to support, educate and let people know what is available.
For more information on Parkinson's disease, Parkinson's Central Plateau and the Rotorua Parkinson's Action Group go to www.parkinsons.org.nz.
