Kent family of 17 touched by Parkinson’s step closer to a cure at Leeds Castle

SEVENTEEN members of a Kent family are set to take a step closer to a cure for Parkinson’s by taking part in the Walk for Parkinson’s event at Leeds Castle on Sunday 9 September.

The annual fundraiser is organised by the charity Parkinson’s UK and raises money for its pioneering research to find better treatments and a cure for the condition.

Businessman Dennis Pay, 75, founder of Maidstone-based Paydens Group, which operates 128 pharmacies and three care homes across the South East, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s ten years ago and is heading up the Pay family team.

He’ll be taking part in the event with loved ones ranging in age from one to 75 including his wife, two sons, two daughters and seven grandchildren.

Some of the family will walk the three-mile route, others the eight-mile option, and together they are aiming to raise £5,000 for Parkinson’s UK.

Further to the Pay family’s walk, In April Paydens Group named Parkinson’s UK as its first ever charity partner and is aiming to raise a total of £100,000 over 12 months through staff fundraising activities and matched company funding.

Now the family, who will be joined by many employees of Paydens on the day, are calling for people to sponsor their walking challenge, and for more people to register to sign-up in the Walk for Parkinson’s event at Leeds Castle.

Parkinson’s affects 145,000 people in the UK and there are an estimated 19,806 people across the South-East living with the condition.   Parkinson’s UK is the UK’s leading charity supporting those with the condition. Its mission is to find a cure and improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s through cutting edge research, information, support and campaigning.

The charity estimate that there are more than 40 symptoms of the condition. As well as the most widely known symptom – tremor – these range from physical symptoms like muscle stiffness to depression, anxiety, hallucinations, memory problems and dementia, but Parkinson’s affects everyone differently.

Dennis Pay, Founder and Chairman of Paydens Group, said: 

“Our whole family are proud supporters of Parkinson’s UK and we would love people to sponsor our walking efforts for Parkinson’s UK or sign-up to take part in the event themselves.”

“Every penny raised by our partnership will help us take a step closer to better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s and help to keep the charity’s vital services, like its helpline, up and running.”

Sky Sports Presenter and Champion of Walking for Parkinson’s UK Dave Clark was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011. He’s encouraging as many people as possible to get involved in the event.

Dave said: “Thank you to Dennis and his family for signing up to walk for us this year.

“We want to make 2018 our biggest year yet for the Walk for Parkinson’s series.

Exercise can be really beneficial to people living with Parkinson’s. It is as important to me as my medication in helping me take control and manage my symptoms.

“So please join us at Walk for Parkinson’s at Leeds Castle. Every step takes us closer to a cure and our goal of improving the lives of everyone affected by Parkinson’s.”

To sponsor the Pay team visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pay-family-paydens

To find out more, or to sign up to walk at this event, visit: www.parkinsons.org.uk/walkleedscastle  call 0207 963 9367, or email fundraising@parkinsons.org.uk

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