Our hero this week is Olivia whose husband was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s at the age of 40. With 2 young children Olivia got behind Pause 4 Parkinson’s 2017 last weekend by hosting a sausage sizzle. In just 3 hours they raised $960.00. Determined to keep going, Olivia has lots of fundraisers planned for the year.
What Drives Your Commitment to find a cure for Parkinson’s?
My husband was just diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease in September last year at the age of 40. We have 2 small children aged 6 and 9 years so we need a cure. There are many other people out there also being diagnosed in there 20’s and 30’s so it’s important to give them hope for the future.
Why Shake It Up Australia?
Shake It Up Australia are so proactive. 100% of every dollar goes towards research in Australia. If we all work together we can help make a cure happen!
Tell us what you are doing to Shake Things Up?
I have set up Team Bailey v’s Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease and we have numerous fundraisers on the horizon for this year and beyond…. With April being Pause 4 Parkinson’s month we teamed up with ‘Team Milne’ (Hayley is another young onset Parkinson’s warrior) We kicked off the 1st of April with a sausage sizzle and raised $966 in 3 hours! But we are not going to stop there. We have a friend doing a cupcake spot sale for Easter, morning tea’s planned and I am putting on the runners after 20 years to do some local fun runs!
Greatest Reward?
When my husband was first diagnosed I felt very helpless so wanted to feel as though I was doing something! Getting involved makes me feel like I am doing something! Having friends and family show their support and also get involved makes us feel less alone on this journey. The greatest reward would be to see a cure and a world without Parkinson’s disease.
Best advice for people looking to Shake It Up?
I want to encourage people to Shake It Up in any way they can. It can be anything, as small or as big as you can, anything to spread the message, help raise awareness and the funds for our clever scientists do find a cure!
