Cure Parkinson’s is marking 20 years since its late co-founder laid the foundations for two decades of inspiring work.
Chorleywood resident Tom Isaacs (pictured) was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease when he was 26 years old. He set up the charity Cure Parkinson’s in 2005, alongside Sir Richard Nichols, Air Vice Marshal Michael Dicken and Sir David Jones in the hopes of finding a cure for himself and others.
Sadly, Tom passed away suddenly in May 2017 at just 49 years old.
However, 20 years after the launch, the team now works with researchers across the globe, in Canada, France, Norway, Finland and the United States, to continue Tom’s mission. They are now closer than ever to finding a cure.
Speaking to CHORLEYWOODnews, former CEO, current chairman of the charity’s development board, and Chorleywood resident Will Cook said: “I’m not a charity guy; I was a lawyer for 30 years. But Tom was my best man, my best friend, the godfather of my son Ben.
“When Tom passed away, it was a significant moment for me. I gave up my career to take up the role of CEO and build on those foundations Tom laid.”
The charity has launched three fundraising events to mark the charity’s 20th anniversary.
The first, entitled Walkies to Cure, involves sponsored dog walks throughout the month of April.
On Sunday, September 28, residents can take part in the Walk to Cure Parkinson’s – London Walk, a reenactment of the fundraising walk Tom took on more than 20 years ago.
The final fundraiser is the Coastal Challenge. The challenge reflects Tom’s year-long 4,500-mile walk along the coastline of Britain in 2002, which raised around £300,000 in order to found the charity.
Will emphasised that the charity is ‘marking’ not ‘celebrating’ 20 years.
He said: “We are not celebrating having to exist; we are working to make ourselves redundant. We have to cure this pernicious condition, and we have never been closer to finding a cure.
“Tom would love this, seeing his work and how far the charity has come, how fast we are working towards a cure, and the hope that this charity gives to people around the world.
“If I can channel some of that, some of his leadership that I have been trying to do for the last eight years, I will be happy.”
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My partner was diagnosed with Parkinson’s almost 5 years ago. His disease has progressed significantly in the past year, and he begun to have delusions. He also had side effects from carbidopa/levodopa, which we decided to stop, and our primary physician decided he should start on PD-5 formula 4 months ago from UINE HEALTH CENTER. He now sleeps soundly, works out frequently, and is now very active since we started him on the PD-5 formula. It doesn’t make the Parkinson’s disease go away, but it did give him a better quality of life.