Mick Talks Walking Football How It Is Supporting People Living With Parkinson’s
Thursday, 16th January 2025

Walking football is more than just a game for Mick Trimm—it’s a way to connect, inspire, and support individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. As the president of Walking Football 4 Health Victoria, Mick is combining his passion for the sport with a mission to raise awareness and funds for Parkinson’s research through Shake It Up Australia.

Here, Mick shares his personal connection to Parkinson’s, his efforts to make a real difference in the community, and his vision for a Parkinson’s-focused walking football tournament in Australia.

How did you first get involved with raising awareness for Parkinson’s disease through walking football?

Well, my father-in-law was diagnosed about three years ago, and not long after that, I saw a walking football tournament in the UK called the Cure Parkinson’s Cup. I was already playing walking football at the time, so I looked into the Walking Football Association in the UK. They started with 10 teams of people with Parkinson’s, and now they’ve grown to about 30 teams.

That inspired me, and I’ve tried a couple of times over the last few years to get something similar going here. It’s been easier now with my own organisation because I don’t have to go through committees or wait for approvals.

Recently, we’ve had some great opportunities to raise awareness. At Western United Football Club, we hosted an open day to fundraise for Parkinson’s. We’ve also participated in Diwali festivals, and at the Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast, I wore a Parkinson’s awareness T-shirt while taking photos with teams to help spread the word.

What challenges have you faced in setting this up, and how have people responded to the initiative?

People have been really supportive and say it’s a great cause. Our focus is on raising awareness and getting more people with Parkinson’s playing walking football. We’re working to link up with health organisations like Diabetes Victoria, rehabilitation centers, and neurology groups to spread the word.

Why did you choose to partner with Shake It Up Australia Foundation?

To be honest, we didn’t get far with some other organisations, but I was drawn to Shake It Up after reading your website. I liked what I saw, and when I spoke to my in-laws—my father-in-law has Parkinson’s—they had also heard of you. That’s when I decided to reach out and see how we could support Shake It Up through fundraising and awareness efforts.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own fundraising event for Parkinson’s research?

Definitely go for it! It’s such a great cause. The more people know about Parkinson’s, the more awareness we can raise, and that brings us closer to finding a cure.

What’s your long-term vision for Walking Football 4 Health Victoria?

Our main goal is to get as many people with Parkinson’s playing walking football as possible to help slow down the progression of the disease. But we also want to organise a tournament specifically for people with Parkinson’s, similar to the Cure Parkinson’s Cup in the UK. Even if we start small, with four or six teams, we hope to grow it from there.

Down the track, it would be incredible to send a team from Australia to compete in the Cure Parkinson’s Cup in England. That’s a big goal we’re working towards in the next couple of years.

How can people get involved or learn more about walking football?

The best way to get in touch is by emailing me directly or visiting our Facebook page, Walking Football 4 Health Victoria. We’re always looking for more players and supporters, so don’t hesitate to reach out!

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