Parkinson’s Life 2018 highlights

2018 saw us share some truly inspiring stories from across the global Parkinson’s community. From comedians and inventors, to cannabis enthusiasts and ninjas – it’s been quite a year. We look back at some of our favourite stories

1. Indian Ocean Row 2018

This summer we covered the Indian Ocean Row 2018, which saw Robin Buttery – who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 43 – and his crew mates row 3,600-miles across the Indian Ocean to raise funds for the condition. We captured it all – the blood, sweat and tears – over four features on Parkinson’s Life.

• Man with Parkinson’s sets sights on 3,600-mile world record
• Indian Ocean Row 2018: The ‘Parky’ perspective
• Indian Ocean Row 2018: the story so far
• “My next adventure is to concentrate on living

2. ‘A Highbrow Dinner’: medicinal plants, great food and Parkinson’s

In October we featured US-based chefs Clay Inscoe and John Harry who created an eight-course meal made from cannabis extracts. The friends discussed their own personal connections with the condition – and why they thought it was time for Parkinson’s community to embrace cannabis as a treatment.

3. “Many people believed my Parkinson’s symptoms were the result of bad spirits”

In one of our most compelling ‘In my Country’ features yet, we spoke to Kibra Kebede, the founder of Ethiopia’s first Parkinson’s organisation. In an emotive piece, Kibra explained the challenges she faced when she was first diagnosed, from being told it was the result of “bad spirits” to being instructed to use “holy water”.

4. Dave Clark: “I’m not going to hide away”

At the beginning of the year we were lucky enough to spend some time with legendary sports commentator Dave Clark and talk to him about living with Parkinson’s. Dave reflected on his father’s battle with Parkinson’s, his initial secrecy about his condition – and the unwavering support he has received from his friend, the footballer Alan Shearer.

5. “I want to create technologies that help alleviate human suffering”

2018 saw many young people join the fight against Parkinson’s. We told the incredible story of 18-year-old inventor Erin Smith, who created Parkinson’s diagnosis tool FacePrint. Erin shared her inspiration for the idea, and her thoughts on why young people are the key to solving some of the world’s biggest problems.

6. Paul Mayhew-Archer: “laughing at my Parkinson’s”

We chatted to British comedy legend Paul Mayhew-Archer, creator of iconic UK TV shows ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ and ‘My Hero’. Paul said he approaches his condition in the same way he approaches everything in life – with a relaxed attitude, a dose of humour and a smile.

 7. Jimmy Choi: why I became an ‘American Ninja Warrior’

Jimmy Choi was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 27. In a heartfelt interview, he explained how he went from total isolation to appearing on US TV show ‘American Ninja Warrior’ – and even rubbing shoulders with ‘Back to the Future’ star and Parkinson’s campaigner Michael J Fox.

Read more:

Parkinson’s Life 2017 highlights

12 Parkinson’s Life highlights from 2016