73-year-old Kettering ‘grandude’ with Parkinson’s to complete wing walk for Parkinson’s UK

Geoff Hammond, 73, who lives with Parkinson’s, was inspired to take on the challenge after a family outing to the Imperial War Museum Duxford.

He will be completing the wing walk on April 26 at Duxford Airfield and is setting himself a fundraising target of £3,000.

Geoff said: “Whilst my family and I were at the Duxford Airfield, I could see wing walking in progress and thought it could be a good way of raising funds for charity.

“I spoke to my family while we watched and some said yes, some thought I was joking as usual and others thought I was completely mad.

"I’ve never done anything like this before so the more I thought about it the more determined I became to do it.”

Geoff first began noticing his Parkinson’s symptoms around eight or nine years ago, starting with a mild, occasional tremor in his left hand. At the time, he did not think it was anything serious.

While working in ambulance patient transport services in and around London, he gradually began to realise there may be more to the tremor than he had first thought.

Despite his diagnosis, Geoff has remained determined to live life to the fullest.

He said: “I have found that being positive and to keep doing the things you normally do is good for me otherwise you can blame all the little niggles and stuff on Parkinson's.

“It hasn’t stopped me playing bowls, walking or cutting the lawn.

"It has, I think, made me more determined to do the wing walk just to show what you can do if you want to.

“Parkinson’s nurses and therapists have also been just fantastic, always ready to encourage and help with advice when you ask or need it.

“I want my grandchildren to say, ‘Do you remember when Grandude went wing walking?’ and to bring a laugh and a smile to people’s faces.”

Aaron Coleman, community fundraiser - Central Midlands at Parkinson's UK, said: “We are so grateful to Geoff for taking part in this wingwalk and choosing to donate to Parkinson’s UK.

“Parkinson's is a complex brain condition that gets worse over time. Affecting 166,000 people in the UK, it has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety, and there is currently no cure.

“On behalf of everyone at Parkinson’s UK, thank you once again to Geoff for making such a meaningful difference.”

So far, Geoff has raised £1,135 towards his £3,000 fundraising target.

To support Geoff and make a donation, go to www.justgiving.com/page/grandude-goes-windwalking

Parkinson's is a complex brain condition that gets worse over time. It has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety, and there is no cure.

Someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the UK every 20 minutes and by 2050, the number of people living with the condition worldwide will double to 25 million.

Parkinson’s UK is the leading European funder of Parkinson’s research and here to support every Parkinson’s journey, every step of the way.

For information and support, visit parkinsons.org.uk or call the charity’s free confidential helpline on 0808 8000303.