A WOMAN from Whitehaven has shared her experience of Parkinson’s – saying there needs to be more awareness of the disease in the area.

Emma Tumelty, 51, said that living with Parkinson’s during the Covid-19 pandemic had been a challenge.

Emma spoke out as part of Parkinson’s Awareness Week 2021, with Parkinson’s UK’s West Cumbrian branch highlighting some of the difficulties faced by people living with the disease.

“People look at me and think I’m okay, but when you haven’t been to bed for four or five days it's so difficult,” said Emma.

“It’s been a massive challenge.

“I think a lot of it was to do with the fact that I live alone, and Parkinson’s disease can be a very lonely disease anyhow.”

When recalling the moment she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2016, Emma said: “It felt like the end of the world at the time.

“It was just awful.

“I can’t begin to tell you how bad I felt.

“I didn’t know anything about it, and if it hadn’t been for John Kane and Parkinson’s West Cumbria group, I don’t know what I would have done.”

According to Parkinson's UK, out of the 2000 people they surveyed across the UK with Parkinson's disease in 2020, 34 per cent said reduced access to exercise had a big impact on their lives and 75 per cent of respondents said socialising with family and friends had become more difficult.

Emma added: “Even though I did shield for the majority of the time, it got to a point where I wanted to go for my own food shopping.

“My daughters have been amazing if I've needed food shopping, and I’ve got some lovely neighbours and good friends who would do anything for me.

“I think I’ve been lucky in that sense, but it is a struggle.

“Parkinson’s UK are an absolute lifeline for a lot of people and it’s vital that people raise awareness for it because there are so many people that have Parkinson’s these days.”

Visit Parkinsons.org.uk for more information.