I am Kerry Hartman and I live in Shrivenham village with my family. I have always kept generally fit and healthy, completing powerwalking marathons and several ‘race for life’ walks raising funds for Cancer charities. I am a keen cyclist with no major health issues. In 2013 I felt as if my righthand side was slipping down and right hand starting clawing when I walked, I was concerned it may be a stroke! It started to affect my writing, speech and it was uncomfortable to sit for long which affected my work as a School Office Manager.

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After seeing a specialist for rheumatism over 3 years and having brain and body scans with no satisfactory result I was eventually sent to a Neurologist. Following a DAT scan, which looks at dopamine levels specifically, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in April 2017, aged 56. This dispelled the myth that it is only an ‘old person’s’ disease! I knew little of this condition except for seeing Michael J Fox, Billy Connolly and Muhammed Ali, who have helped raise the profile to some extent, and the image of shaking and immobility. I have soon learnt that there are so many versions of Parkinson’s, effecting people of all ages and in different ways but the common advice is take the meds and keep moving! I am very fortunate to have an amazingly supportive family and an incredible circle of friends who help keep me motivated and mobile.