Living with Parkinson’s disease is no walk in the park – just ask Carmel Wilkinson.
The Werribee woman saw first-hand how hard and debilitating the disease could be through her father Antonio, who lived with Parkinson’s for 26 years before passing away in 2012.
“We thought he’d had a stroke – his face was a little quivery and his hands were shaking a little bit,” she said.
“He didn’t know anything of Parkinson’s at the time. He had very early stages and that was controlled really well with medication, and then it goes down further.
“He was hoping to get to 70 and he got to 80 and we celebrated that, and then he died three months after.”
More than 27,000 Victorians are living with Parkinson’s, a chronic and progressive neurological condition that affects movement. There is no known cure.
After Antonio died, Ms Wilkinson’s daughter, Bianca, suggested the entire family take part in the annual Parkinson’s A Walk in the Park fundraiser to remember and commemorate the beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
They’ve walked every year since and will once again come together this Sunday for their fifth Walk in the Park.
“It was very emotional the first year,” Ms Wilkinson said.
She said her mum, Maria, did not participate in the first walk, but everyone else did.
“I don’t think we said a syllable,” she said.
“We were very quiet and there were lots of tears.
“But every other year since then has been lovely – it’s not sad now.”
To Walk in the Park, or donate, go to melbournewalkinthepark.org.au
