“About a year ago I had my Parkinson’s diagnosis. What a shock! I’d been ill for years but nobody would tell me what was wrong. I immediately got on the Internet and tried to find out more. What I really wanted more than anything was to find somebody I could befriend that was in the same situation. With some trepidation I went to my first meeting in Clapham. I didn’t know what to expect so took my husband for moral support. I needn’t have worried everyone was so friendly. A few days after this I had an e-mail from Sarah saying she had met someone who I might like to get in touch with. So I found my Parkie friend. Sue and I have so much in common. We are a similar age, both were diagnosed about a year ago, we both work in education and would you believe it we both have daughters that work as French and Spanish teachers in London! More than I could have hoped for really. Sue and I have met up a few times but more importantly we are there for one another whether for a quick encouraging text or a pour your heart out phone call!”