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AUTUMN 2013 LAUNCH OF NEW GP LEAFLET

LAUNCH OF NEW GP LEAFLET - Parkinson’s › userfiles › file › Parkinsons Mag Autumn 2013.pdf · Run-a-Muck Challenge 2 Branch Spotlight Roscommon 10 Special Feature Feakle Health

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Page 1: LAUNCH OF NEW GP LEAFLET - Parkinson’s › userfiles › file › Parkinsons Mag Autumn 2013.pdf · Run-a-Muck Challenge 2 Branch Spotlight Roscommon 10 Special Feature Feakle Health

AUTUMN 2013

LAUNCH OF NEW GP LEAFLET

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Dear Friends,

As we prepare to leave Summer behind and move into Autumn, we at PAI have a very busy schedule of events including a fundraising trek to the Great Wall of China and a Christmas concert.

I would like to wish our 12 trekkers, led by our CEO, a safe journey to China in October. I wish them every success as they attempt to take on the Great Wall, in what is a major fundraiser for the association. I look forward to reading about their experiences in our next magazine. In today’s economic environment this is a big undertaking and their efforts are highly valued by myself and the Board of PAI.

The National office is also busy arranging the Christmas concert set for the 5th December. The Army No. 1 band has kindly agreed to play for us and we are currently lining up the rest of the programme which will include Shay Healy, Katherine Lynch and others. A great evening’s entertainment is guaranteed and full details can be found inside the magazine.

On the front cover you will see that we are launching a new GP information leaflet. I would like to thank GSK for their support and assistance in producing this leaflet which will be distributed to doctors’ surgeries and clinics across the country. If you can assist in this distribution please do not hesitate to contact the office.

The PAI was proud to be associated with the recent conference in Feakle, Co. Clare which focused on the benefits of set dancing for people with Parkinson’s. We are currently seeking funding to enable branches to provide dance classes.

We held our AGM and social weekend on the 7th September and it was great to meet so many of you and hear your ideas for improving the lives of people with Parkinson’s.

Finally, I want to thank once again all our fundraisers and especially the many women who participated in the Mini Marathon on our behalf. We had over 100 people taking part in this event alone and your support is greatly appreciated.

Yours sincerely

Pat O’Rourke

THROUGH THE CHAIR

Pat O’RourkeChairman

CONTENTS2 Through the Chair Pat O’Rourke3 Parkinson’s Shop Calendar of Events OfficeUpdate

4 Insurance

6 Fundraising Dublin City Marathon Training for the China Trek Hell & Back “Titan” Coffee Morning Run-a-Muck Challenge2 BranchSpotlight Roscommon10 SpecialFeature Feakle Health Conference12 Living Deep Brain Stimulation14 Ask the Expert Parkinson’s Nurse, Alison Cashell answers your questions15 BranchNews

20 Science Research News21 UpcomingEvents Christmas Concert22 NewsExtra Rosses Point Sea Shanty Festival23 CrosswordCompetition ChristmasShop

We make every effort to be as accurate as possible, and in the event of a mistake being made, it is our policy to acknowledge it in the following quarter’s publication.

The material herein is for your information only, and does not represent advice. No changes to your treatment regime should be made without the prior agreement of your consultant or GP.

Parkinson’s Association of Ireland, Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7Tel: 01 872 2234Email: [email protected]: www.parkinsons.ieFreephone Helpline: 1800 359 359 Mon-Fri 9am-9pm

Company registered in Ireland No. 123532, CHY No. 10816Registered address as above

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FEEDBACKIf you have a Parkinson’s story you’d like to share, please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you at [email protected]

CALENDAR of EVENTS

SEPTEMBER s Social Gathering/ AGM - 7th Septembers EPDA Annual General Assembly - 20-22nd September - Poland

OCTOBER s World Parkinson’s Congress - 1-4th October - Montreals China Trek 11-19th October

DECEMBER s Christmas Concert - 5th December - Red Cow Hotel

WEDDING FAVOURS

Many brides and bridegrooms search for unique wedding favours that will make a statement and from which the guests will fondly remember their wedding. Our wedding favours will create a lasting memory for you and your guests with a small gift that has meaning.

Available from our office or online at parkinsons.ie Cost €2.00 per favour.

CHICKEN BOOK

This lovely book was written by Mairead Maguire, and stands as a wonderful testimony to the indomitable spirit of its author who had MSA but did not let that limit her.

Available from our office Cost €8.00 + P&P

YOGA DVD

This is a daily guide to yoga practice designed for people with dystonia, muscle imbalance, rigidity, and spasms.

Available from our office Cost €13.00 + P&P

NEWBRIDGE SILVERWARE PENDANT

Newbridge Silverware’s stunning rendition of our aspen leaf logo makes it a truly lovely gift.

Available from our office Cost €35.00 + P&P

PARKINSON’S SHOP

OFFICE UPDATEOver the last few months we have been working on a number of initiatives that will help us enhance awareness and understanding of Parkinson’s disease. Among these initiatives is an education programme run by Alison Cashell, delivered to nursing homes, and a new information leaflet which we will be distributing to doctors’ surgeries and other suitable locations. Read on for further information on both.

NURSING HOME VISITSAlison, our Parkinson’s nurse, has been out on the road this year, visiting nursing homes all over the country. She has been busy educating their staff about Parkinson’s disease. This initiative was supported by Nursing Homes Ireland, who kindly advertised this service in their newsletter.So far, she has visited 20 nursing homes, from Cork to Clones. The homes have been very receptive and grateful for the information. For some homes it was simply an update, and for others it was new information entirely. We hope that this will help nursing home staff care for their clients with Parkinson’s, offering a higher standard of care.

PARKINSON’S DISEASE GP LEAFLETEarlier this year we were fortunate to secure a grant from GSK to assist us in printing a new information leaflet on Parkinson’s disease. This will be distributed to clinics and doctors’ surgeries by GSK on our behalf and will provide an initial source of information for anyone interested in finding out more about Parkinson’s disease and how to seek support and further detailed information.

CROSSWORD WINNERThe winner of the last crossword puzzle was Gillian McCullugh. Gillian wins a €25.00 one4all voucher.

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INSURANCEAs printed in our summer edition, the Road Safety Authority recently reprinted guidelines for “Sláinte agus Tiomáint Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines”. These guidelines were issued to make it easier for medical practitioners to ensure they are following the correct procedures. The guidelines are a translation of the law to serve as a best practice for the GP.Here, we have experiences from two people who have recently contacted their insurance company and the licensing authority. Our thanks to the authors who wrote these pieces for us, we appreciate your input.

TOM’S STORYIn Alison Cashell’s ‘Ask the Expert’ article of Summer 2013, Alison highlighted the fact that new legislation introduced on January 2013 meant that Parkinson’s was now a ‘notifiable disease’.

The consequence of this is that Parkinson’s sufferers are obliged to report their condition to the Driving Licensing Authority and their insurance provider.

The Driver is obliged to report to the Driving Licensing Authority and their insurance provider any long-term or permanent injury or illness that may affect their ability to drive safely. (Sláinte agus Tiomáint Medical Fitness to Drive Guidelines).

Reporting to the Licensing Authority means, in reality, applying for a renewal of license. This is the only method offered by which a medical condition can be recorded on one’s current license. Happily, if your present licence is valid you will be issued with a new licence free of charge. The new license will be valid up to the date specified on your current license but only for a maximum of 3 years or 1 year depending on your doctor’s medical report.

To apply for a renewal of license you will need the following:

J a copy of your present valid license

J 2 coloured passport photographs, each signed on the back

J a completed D401 (New License) form (downloaded from www.rsa.ie)

J a completed D501 medical form (www.rsa.ie)

J if you need glasses, a completed D502 form (www.rsa.ie). Your doctor can test you for the D502, an optician is not necessary.

If your license is about to be out-of-date and you are renewing it, you will need to include a fee of €35 for a 3-year license.

Send the above to your Licensing Authority (at the moment that’s your local Motor Taxation Office) and allow 10 working days for your new credit-card-style license to arrive. If you hand in the above documentation in person you will receive a receipt but your new license will still have to be posted out.

As well as informing the Licensing Authority, the Car Insurer needs to be notified so that your details can be updated. This should be free of charge and should not cause any penalty. All the insurers contacted confirmed that there would be no charge to update nor would a penalty be imposed. The Insurers were only interested in knowing whether or not the licensing authority

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has been notified and had they approved of a new license. Insurance cover is not withdrawn in the understanding that the Insured fulfils his or her obligations.

Making Parkinson’s a notifiable disease may cause some inconvenience but having gone through the process of renewing my license I was met with only courtesy and effective efficiency which made the whole process stress free.

PADDY’S STORYSet out below are our dealings with both the Insurance Company and the Motor Tax Office.

When diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, I contacted my Insurance Company, AA Insurance, to advise them of my condition, as per the advice you gave in the quarterly magazine (Summer 2013). The AA insures me through the Royal Sun Alliance (RSA). Following this telephone conversation, the AA wrote to me enclosing a letter from RSA outlining the documentation I need for my medical condition. The documentation listed are as follows

l Sight of licence (front and back)

l Written confirmation that the Licensing Authority are aware of the driver’s medical condition

l GP letter noting: Medical condition, fitness to drive and confirmation that the driver would be medically approved if applying for a licence today.

The letter further stated that “We require receipt of the above within 14 days of the date of this letter.”

I contacted the Motor Taxation Office and they advised me to download and fill in D501, Driving Licence Medical Report Form. This form has to be signed by your doctor. The Motor Tax Office would then keep this document on file until my licence was due for renewal.

I followed the instructions of both the Insurance Company and the Motor Tax Office and forwarded the documentation to both.

The Motor Taxation Office then wrote to me stating

“To revalidate the above licence you should complete the enclosed application form D401 for a driving licence…and resubmit it to this office together with last driving licence number and two passport type photographs both photographs must have your signature on the back”.

I completed this form and returned it to them.

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LOOKING FOR IDEAS ON HOW TO FUNDRAISE?Why not visit our website www.parkinsons.ie and see our A to Z list of exciting fundraising ideas

If you have registered for an event, please let Sabrina know at [email protected]

Dublin City Marathon

Hell and Back “Titan”

Training for the China Trek

Dublin City Marathon takes place on the Bank Holiday weekend, 28th October, 2013. Wheelchair entrants start at 8:55am. The first wave will start at 9:00am, the second at 9:10am and the last at 9:20amEnter online or request a registration form from the Dublin Marathon office at +353-1-6232250

Sunday 3rd Nov 2013, Killruddery Estate, Bray, Co WicklowTITAN IS 13KM OF PURE HELL!!!The HELL & BACK Series is specifically designed and created by outdoor specialists to test your physical and mental boundaries to THE limit! This is not a multi-sport event - it involves running through, over and under various different types of terrain, including the Little Sugar Loaf Mountain, The Pond, The River, Satan’s Pit and The Swamp. And if that wasn’t enough, you must also scale 7 foot walls, crawl under barbed wire and run through ‘Shock of Horrors’ where you will get a nice little electric shock!Go to http://www.hellandback.ie/Current-Events.aspx to register.

11th October is fast approaching and the 12 trekkers have been preparing with some serious training around Glendalough. It was great to get the majority of the trekkers together and see Ronnie Gillanders leading the way across the tops of the mountain. The trekkers are still running some fundraising events and if you would like to sponsor them please contact the office and let us know.

FUNDRAISING

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Coffee MorningKilmacow, Co. Kilkenny Ollie and Maura Renehan organised a coffee morning in their local Community Centre, Kilmacow Community Hall on 15th June to raise awareness and funds for the Parkinson’s Association. The coffee morning was well supported and we would like to say a very big thank you to Ollie and Maura for the time and effort they put into organising this day. Well done.

PUT YOUR ONE4ALL GIFT VOUCHERS/ CARDS TO GOOD USEDo you have any one4all gift vouchers lying in a drawer? Have you got an old card with a few Euro left on it? Don’t let it go to waste. We can now take your one4all cards. It is simple, just send your card into the office with a note telling us the balance remaining and we do the rest. Every cent helps, so please consider sending your cards to us today. Did you know you can also use your card to purchase any of our items from our shop? Have a looktoday on www.parkinsons.ie/shop for more details on our range of items.

Frank Flynn, Pat Granger, Ollie, Mary, Ann Marie, Maura, Alice and Aoibhinn

Run-a-Muck ChallengeThe next Run-a-Muck Challenge takes place on Saturday 12th October 2013. This is Ireland’s Original and most popular off-road Fun and Run Challenge for Joggers and Runners of all abilities

The Run-a-Muck takes place in the grounds of Clonkeeran House, near Johnstown Bridge, Co. Kildare (Just off N4 approx 25 mins drive from Jct7 of M50 )Why not challenge yourself to a fun day in the muck to raise funds for the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland.Contact Sabrina at [email protected] or 01-8722234

GREAT NEWS!! We’ve been shortlisted for the Coca Cola Thank You Fund for Set Dancing classes! This is a panel and public vote through facebook. Please get anyone you know to vote using the following link or through the Parkinsons Associations facebook page. http://origin.coca-cola.ie/community/thank-you-fund/thank-you-fund-voting-form.html

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Driving to Galway on a summer day in June 2000 Parkinson’s Disease was the last thing on my mind but as I drove home three hours later Parkinson’s was all I could think of.I had been referred to a Neurologist due to a tremor of my right hand and as I drove along I was enjoying listening to the Gerry Ryan show on 2 FM. If somebody were to say to me that I was about to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s I would have said “what do you mean? I am only in my early forties and PD is associated with older people”. I knew very little about the disease then.

BRANCH SPOTLIGHTROSCOMMON BRANCH

Since that day in 2000 I have come a long way in my knowledge of Parkinson’s and I can honestly say that Parkinson’s has had a positive effect on my life. How can you say that? I hear you say, but I feel that I have met so many wonderful people because of Parkinson’s that my life is enriched.

In June 2012 I travelled to present a cheque to the PAI. This cheque was the proceeds of a Pancake day I had at my home on Shrove Tuesday. Pauline met us at Carmicheal House. I was accompanied by my son and two friends. We had a lengthy conversation with Pauline and she referred to the lack of a support group in the Roscommon area. Pauline had just sown the seed which led to the setting up of the Roscommon Branch. I set up the branch in July 2012 with the help and support of Chris McNamara.

Working together has proven very successful and the hard working committee has made the Roscommon Branch what it is today. We had ten people at our initial meeting and we now have almost thirty members. We meet on the second Wednesday of every month in Hannons Hotel, Athlone Rd Roscommon at 7:30 pm.

Marie Gunning is Secretary of the Branch and her enthusiasm and hard work is invaluable.

We have had among our speakers at our monthly meetings Patrick Browne the Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist for the West of Ireland. We also had a speaker from Citizens Information. In November

2012 we held a launch night. Ruth Scott of 2FM performed the launch and over one hundred people attended.

It has been a very busy year for the branch

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with an exercise and education programme up and running in Castlerea. The programme was created by the HSE’s Intermediate Care Team in Castlerea and is proving very popular.

A very impressive Aspen tree stands tall in the grounds of the Sacred Heart Home Roscommon. This tree was planted by the branch in April 2013 to mark Parkinson’s Awareness Week.

Pat O’Rourke Chairman of the PAI and Cllr Tom Crosby Mayor of Roscommon County Council performed the tree planting ceremony .

Earlier this year we set up singing sessions given

by Emma Brogan. Emma is a young talented music song and dance student in the University of Limerick. Emma travelled to Feakle, Co Clare with members of the branch on August 6th to attend the International Health Conference on the Therapeutic effects of Irish Set Dancing on Parkinson’s Disease. She is pictured here with the Italian Neurologist Professor Daniele Volpe who conducted the study.

Fundraising is essential for the branch and the generosity of people has been amazing. We are extremely grateful to everybody who has

donated to us in any way, Go raibh mile maith agaibh!

We welcome all new members. Meetings

resume after Summer break on September 11th in Hannon’s Hotel, Athlone Road, Roscommon at 7.30pm. We extend our thanks to the Management and staff at Hannon’s Hotel for their generosity and help in the past year.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank my husband Gerry, my daughters Lorraine and Aisling, son, Dan son in law John, future daughter in law Helen, and of course my two beautiful grandchildren Heidi and Eli for their ongoing help and support.

Contact: 087 623 9139

Email: [email protected]

Marie Gunning, Anita Connaughton and Ruth Scott

Professor Daniele Volpe and Emma Brogan

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““

www.parkinsons.ie

August is a very special time of year in the village of Feakle in East Clare and has been for the past 26 years. This year the Feakle International Traditional Irish Music Festival was preceded by a very unique and remarkable event. On the 5th and 6th of August hundreds gathered, from all over the globe, to learn more about “The therapeutic effects of set dancing in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease”. Prof. Daniele Volpe, Consultant Neurologist in Venice, Italy, described how he was in Pepper’s pub playing music in 2010, at the Feakle Festival, and he saw a man with Parkinson’s, with typical shuffling gait, dancing so well in front of him, it was the inspiration for him to return to Venice and study Irish set dancing steps.

SPECIAL FEATUREFEAKLE HEALTH CONFERENCE

He started a research project with patients who have Parkinson’s Disease. The patients were randomly divided into two groups; one group learned Irish set dancing for six months with the Black Sheep Irish set dancing Association in Venice and the other group participated in conventional physiotherapy. After the six months the results showed that the Irish set dancing group improved significantly in terms of mobility, balance and quality of life.

At the Feakle Health Conference Prof. Timothy Lynch, Mater, Dublin, gave a detailed account of Parkinson’s disease and what a complex condition it is. He described the various

indicators of Parkinson’s disease but also how the symptoms of this condition can be similar to other disorders. Dr. Amanda Clifford and Joanne Shanahan, from the Physiotherapy Department at the University of Limerick, spoke on the practical recommendations for dancing with people with Parkinson’s disease and the feasibility of Irish set dancing in PD patients.

Prof. Volpe showed the effect that Irish music has on the body with a demonstration from world renowned Irish musician Martin Hayes. He described how we listen to music with our muscles as well as with our ears and our emotions. His point was well made as delegates swayed to the beautiful sounds from Martin’s fiddle. The rhythm of Irish music plays a huge part in the way we move when set dancing. The Italian group “Park” with their set dancing teachers Romano and Stefania, along with the Irish set dancing group and their dance tutor Joanne from UL, gave an uplifting demonstration of Irish set dancing to an enthralled delegation.

Sincere congratulations to the organising team. It was a resounding success. It epitomises what a community should be. Go mbá fada buan sibh.

P&S MC, from Conamara

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Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill provided the perfect rhythm for the set dancers.

It was a privilege to have the Voices of Hope Choir/Move 4 Parkinson’s as special guests at the conference as they inspired delegates with their amazing voices. Jen Grundulis, Musical Director, involved everyone in an emotional combination of song. Mags Mullarney, Move4Parkinson’s, emphasised that when you have this condition you are a person who lives with Parkinson’s but should not let it define you. This was a theme that emanated throughout the conference.

In addition to the morning lectures delegates were invited to participate in workshops with Joanne Shanahan, Romano Baratella and Stefania Sossella where they learned the basic’s of Irish set dancing and key factors for someone with Parkinson’s. Set dancing teachers also gathered to brainstorm the best approach when teaching set dancing to a person with mobility difficulties. The events of the day all

came together in Pepper’s Marquee that night where everyone stepped out in the Céilí with energy and enthusiasm.

Conference Manager and Occupational Therapist, Breda Collins, highlighted that it is wonderful to share with others how taking part in a recreational activity like Irish set dancing can impact positively on your health and well being. It is a fun, social activity that you can do with others in your community and at the same time improve your health and quality of life. This conference was an amazing opportunity to share something extremely positive with people who live with such a complex condition and their families. The conference organising committee wish Prof. Volpe continued success in his research and hope that Irish set dancing and Parkinson’s disease have a long and fruitful relationship for years to come!

Prof. Volpe will start a larger international randomised control trial in September in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, Australia, with Prof. Meg Morris as well as the Universities of Limerick and Italy. We will keep a close eye on these studies!Professor Volpe and Professor Lynch

“ “

I really can’t describe the feeling this night gave me. I saw a community fighting for a cause and people with PD expressing their dreams and hopes in the best way possible. It was lovely, inspiring and wonderful.

M de D, from the Netherlands.

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Deep brain Stimulation by Elizabeth McFadden

LIVING

The voice at the other end of the phone said “Elizabeth there is only one way to go now“ and I didn’t have to ask what he meant. Having been diagnosed in 2002, and having tried just about everything, things were starting to go downhill fast. The dyskinesia was unbearable and I was down to under 7 stone in weight. There were days that I would not take any medication just to give myself a break from the dyskinesia which by this stage had almost confined me to a wheelchair. On these meds free days the dyskinesia was gone completely, but then I was like a zombie - I was there in body only. I could not walk speak or do anything for myself. There was no in-between - it was either the terrible dyskinesia or no movement at all.It was June 2011 when my Parkinson’s nurse mentioned deep brain stimulation, and at this

stage I was more than ready for it. I told him to set the wheels in motion.In October of that year I got a call to go to Frenchay hospital in Bristol for an assessment. The first part of the day was spent doing the usual paperwork and meeting the Parkinson’s nurse who was to do the assessment. At six o’clock that evening I was told to stop all meds as the assessment would be done the following morning.It was a series of simple tests like putting very small pegs into very small holes, writing my name a few times all very simple but without medication very difficult. While they were doing this they were also scoring me on my performance. My score was in its eighties and during all this I was being video recorded. They then gave me medication and waited for it to start working and then did the same tests all over again. This time my score was in its teens but the dyskinesias was through the roof, so bad that my husband refused to leave my ward that night. Also later on that day they did a memory test. After the test the nurse explained what the surgery involved showing me samples of the leads that would be connected to my brain and the stimulator that would be implanted in my chest. She also explained the risks which include stroke and meningitis. This was a bit scary. I didn’t dwell on it but it was clear in my mind that it could happen to me.

Elizabeth McFadden

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The next day the Parkinson’s nurse and the neurologist came to see me and told me I would be a suitable candidate for DBS. I don’t know how I felt, but I know I would have been very disappointed if I had not been suitable. After that we were free to go. This was to be the first journey of many.

In February 2012 the letter arrived telling me I would be admitted to Frenchay hospital in Bristol for Deep Brain Stimulation the 15th March and I was to have the surgery the next dayThe morning of the surgery came, and believe it or not, I was not in the least bit nervous which was very unusual for me. I left strict instructions with my husband to tell no one until it was all over because I knew my family would be worrying. The porters came to take me to the theatre, I remember passing a clock and the time was 8.10, I remember chatting to the nurses and doctors who were to assist with the surgery. I remember getting the anesthetic and that was it until I came around again sometime after half six in the evening.I felt a tightness in my head which was worse when I laughed or coughed, but there was no real pain. My head was numb for a good six to eight months after surgery. Some people complain of headaches after DBS but I was fine. I had spoken to other people who had this op who told me that even before the stimulator was turned on that they got a new life, but I can say for me there was absolutely no change

in my symptoms. I mentioned this to the PD nurse and she said it can happen to a small number of people and only lasts a few days or maybe a bit longer. She said it is what’s known as “the honeymoon period”. About 5 days after surgery I was well enough to go home. In Frenchay the stimulator is not turned on until six weeks after the surgery. This is to make sure that the swelling in the brain has gone down. After six weeks I returned to Frenchay to have the stimulator turned on, and I must admit I was more nervous about this than I was about the surgery. This was crunch time - did the surgery work or did it not? The PD nurse wheeled me to a portacabin a fair bit away from my ward. She turned on the stimulator and worked with the settings as well as checking my mobility while doing so. When she got the settings right I was able to walk back into the ward, and at this stage I cried my eyes out because it had been almost a year and a half since I had walked so well.I went home the next day and the children were delighted. My 11 year old daughter said “Mammy you’re as good as new”. I received countless messages and cards both before and after my surgery, and family and friends were delighted with the outcome.It’s been a year and 4 months now since the surgery and although my walking is still not great overall I am 99% better and I feel I am getting stronger every day. I know I will never run any marathons but just to be able to do normal everyday things is good enough for me.As far as Frenchay hospital is concerned I could not speak highly enough of it. The doctors and nurses were just brilliant and nothing was too much trouble.To anyone thinking about surgery make up your own mind, and don’t let anyone rush you into it and believe me you will know yourself when you are ready.For more information on D.B.S. log onto www.parkinsons.ie/deepbrainstimulation

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Q: What is a DaT Scan? What is its purpose?

A: DaT Scan is often used when the diagnosis is unclear, for example if the consultant is unsure if the symptoms are due to side effects of medications. The scan is used to detect levels of dopamine, the chemical lost in Parkinson’s disease. It is not necessary for everyone who has a diagnosis of PD to have this scan done, as the results are only supportive, and not diagnostic. The report of a DaT Scan will state either it is positive for a loss of dopamine, or negative which shows a normal dopamine level.

The radiographer uses a small amount of a radioactive drug, which travels up to the brain to help determine how much dopamine is available. The machine similar to, but smaller than, an MRI machine.

However, there are several other diseases, multiple system atrophy (MSA) or progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), which can also produce a loss of dopamine in the brain. A DaT scan cannot differentiate between those diseases and Parkinson’s, which is why diagnosis of Parkinson’s and these other conditions are made by the consultant based on physical examination.

Q: Is it important to take your medication “on time”? Does it make a difference?

A: Yes, it is very important to take your tablets on a regular schedule. Sticking to a regime will allow your body and brain to get used to a rhythm, and will allow you to make plans when you know your Parkinson’s will be good. The more predictable and reliable you are about taking your medications correctly, the more predictable and reliable your Parkinson’s will be.

Q: My father has Parkinson’s for over 20 years now. It has come to our attention in the last 5 years that he has a gambling addiction – I don’t know if addiction is the right word to use. I am looking for support in this matter if you can help in any way. We have tried to control the gambling ourselves – taking bank cards etc from him and thought he was doing alright but found out that he was in a casino till the early hours of the morning last week.

A: I suggest that you contact your dad’s consultant, and inform them. There is an information leaflet available from Parkinson’s UK on “Impulse control behaviours” or “impulsive and compulsive behaviours”, which are linked to dopamine agonist medication (Requip, Mirapexin, Neupro patch, Apomorphine). As your father is on one of these medications, it is likely that they are the cause. Please be assured, that if these behaviours are being driven by the medication, then once the dose is reduced, or the medication has been stopped, then so should these behaviours. Be advised that Parkinson’s medication, even if it is causing these side effects, must not be stopped immediately, but reduced over time, as stopping medication suddenly can have severe, sometimes fatal, consequences, so only change medication regimes under advisement from a doctor.

ASK THE EXPERTAlison Cashell, RGN, Parkinson’s Disease Nurse answers your questions.To speak to Alison call 1800 359 359 or email her [email protected]

You can also fill in the online form at www.parkinsons.ie/advice_asktheexperts

www.parkinsons.ie

DaTscan Normal DaTscan Abnormal

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PALSThe Summer meeting of the Pals branch of the Parkinson’s Association was held on Sunday, June 30th, 2013. The Venue was the Regency Hotel Whitehall.

The Speaker was Richard Walsh, Consultant Neurologist, Tallaght Hospital.

The topic for discussion was “Deep Brain Stimulation” and Richard brought us up to date on DBS. The speaker then opened the floor for questions and answered many queries. It was a very satisfactory meeting, and considering it was a fine summer day the attendance of 28 was more than expected. The meeting ended at 16.30. Tea and coffee were then served.

Contact Tim Kelly 087 7913904

KILDARE/EASTMIDLANDSOn our summer break at the moment but hope to see everyone again in early September.

Hope all at P.A.I. and all the branches have had a fantastic summer.

Contact Marian Deely 045-435024

WATERFORD BRANCH

Members of the Waterford & SE branch with their family, friends and carers enjoyed a lovely annual outing with a tour of Woodstock estate, then on to the beautiful village of Inistioge on

BRANCH NEWSthe river Nore then on to JFK Park ending with dinner and dance at the Rhu Glen.

Contact Teresa Peacock 051-383685

DONEGAL BRANCHOur final meeting before the summer recess took place at the end of June in Dorrians Hotel, Ballyshannon. It was a very well attended meeting and it commenced with lunch at 1pm.

A very successful meeting followed with much discussion regarding moving forward with employing a Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist for the North West.

Members were informed that the Dublin Neurological Institute would be setting up an institute in the North West. It was agreed that 3 of our institue members would attend the meeting with Damien McCallion, Area Manager for the H.S.E. The meeting would be arranged by John Meehan and the branch are very grateful to him for all his help. It is hoped we will be able to get help in getting a nurse trained for our area.

Anthony O’Malley’s book “Trilogy” was available to buy at the meeting and €10 for every book sold would be donated to the branch. €100 was handed over at the end of the meeting.

Mary McCann, whose husband Colm was a member and unfortunately died recently made a donation of €50 to the branch. Thank you Mary.

Madeline Doherty, a member of our group, completed the Mini Marathon and presented us with €500. Many thanks Madeline and well done!

We wish John Fox, Letterkenny, a speedy recovery. John has been unwell for some time.

Finally, Evelyn Kerins, a new member, organised a fundraiser in Sligo. It was a Bag

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and Scarf Sale and was hugely successful with the proceeds €3,149 being presented to the Secretary at the end of the meeting. Our sincere thanks to Evelyn.

We look forward to meeting up with everyone again in the Autumn so take care and look after yourselves.

Contact Ann Foxe 086-1605847

GALWAY BRANCH NEWSWe had our annual summer lunch on the 25th of August, 2013 in the Clatyon Hotel.

We are going on our annual trip to Johnstown Hotel, Enfield on the 13th of September 2013.

Our members will be starting Physiotherapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Thai Chi and Yoga classes in September. These are of huge benefit to our members.

Contact Marie Cahill 087-7783825

MID WEST NEWSWe had 2 events in The Mid Western Branch in the past months. In June there was an

information meeting for Parkinson’s Patients and Carers which was held at An Glor Theatre in Ennis. This is a wonderful venue and Mags Richardson, Clinical Nurse Specialist spoke on The Symptom’s of Parkinson’s Disease. There was a capacity crowd and there was a great Question and Answer session after the talk. Thanks to An Glor for the facility. In August there was a conference on the Therapeutic effects of Irish set dancing in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. This event was held at the Feakle Community Centre in Clare. There

was standing room only and was addressed by Prof. Timothy Lynch, from The Mater University Hospital in Dublin, who spoke on “Parkinson’s Disease - A Complex Problem”. This was followed by Prof. Daniele Volpe from Italy, who spoke on The Potential role of Irish Dancing in Parkinson’s Disease. This was followed by Dr. Amanda Clifford, Lecturer in U. L. and Joanne Shanahan MSc Research student and dance student. There was a great Q&A session after each speaker and was highly informative and enjoyable. There was a demonstration of Set Dancing, with a group of dancers from Italy to lead the way. The music was played by world renowned musicians Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill. There was a Ceili that evening, which was really enjoyed by everyone. We will be having our regular monthly events now and look forward to seeing all our friends at these occasions.

Contact Billy Rice 061-228003

CORK NEWSCork Branch had a very interesting discussion at our April meeting with Judy Wall, Clinical Psychologist, HSE, on the topic, The Psychological Aspects Of Parkinson’s. A representative group of members attended the Unity Walk in Dublin on April 11th which they found very worthwhile and our thanks to them for making the journey. In common with other branches, we were involved in organising a Wellness Day in conjunction with other support groups for neurological conditions. The day began with an address by Mags Mullarney on the Self Management Of A Neurological Condition. The rest of the day consisted of workshops on – Carers, Healthy Eating, Yoga, Mindfulness , Fatigue Management, Tai Chi, Stress Management and Hip Hop Yoga. The day ended with an uplifting session with ‘Drumming’.

More than 120 people attended the Munster Parkinson’s Patient Information Conference which took place at Cork University Hospital on 7th June last. Dr. Sean O’Sullivan, Consultant

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Neurologist who spoke first, assembled an excellent group of speakers including a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a speech and language therapist, and a dietician as well as Ted Horgan, Cork Branch, and Mags Mullarney, Move 4 Parkinsons. All the speakers were most informative and gave very practical advice. Mags led everyone in an inspirational rendition of the Move4Parkinsons song “Inside So Strong”. It was the first patient information conference organised by Dr. O’ Sullivan in association with Cork Branch and it is hoped to organise further conferences in the future.

We are very excited that our long campaign for the appointment of a Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialist at Cork University Hospital is almost at an end although we have a major task on hands to raise the funding required to meet our contribution to the cost. It is regrettable that the HSE have never appointed a Parkinson’s Nurse and that instead we have to allocate a lot of time to fundraising. We have already held a number of successful fund raising events and more are planned.

A number of volunteers have recently attended at the Neurology clinics at CUH to meet newly/recently diagnosed people with Parkinson’s and all concerned consider it has been a very positive initiative. Our Chairman, Pat Walsh, featured on RTE Six One News earlier in the year as part of PAI’s national awareness campaign. Pat has recently undergone major heart surgery and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Our annual tour took place on 30th June, and more than 50 members and friends travelled to West Cork. Our first stop was Gougane Barra where St. Finbarr built a monastery in the 6th century and which is a place of great beauty and tranquility. Though the weather was not kind to us at the time, we had an enjoyable stop. We travelled on to Bantry for lunch at the Maritime Hotel. We were then treated to a brilliant music session by committee member Michael Looney accompanied by his friend

Sam. Everyone agreed that we are extremely lucky to have a musician of Michael’s calibre within our group. The afternoon was bright and sunny and allowed people to ramble around Bantry town before our return journey to Cork. It was a most enjoyable day and many people expressed an interest in a further social outing which we hope to organise in the Autumn.

Contact Ted Horgan ph 087-2375558

DUBLIN NEWSThings have been very quiet during the past couple of months in the Branch. I guess everyone has been enjoying the wonderful summer weather. At the Branch AGM, Ann Davis, Michael Long and Declan Moriarty did not go forward for re-election for the committee. Each in their own way has given stalwart service to the branch and the organisation and we wish them well in their “retirement”.

Exercise classes in Donnybrook resumed on Thursday 29th August and those in Clontarf will resume on Monday 16th September.

With the cooperation of Matieu Pruvost the branch is organising a sale of luxury French Biscuits from Brittany made up in beautiful boxes. All net profits will accrue to the Parkinson’s Association. Contact John at 01- 2852902 for details.

The branch has flag days scheduled for Nutgrove Shopping Centre on 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th September. This is a big commitment for us and volunteer collectors are needed. If you are willing to help or know someone who will we would be very pleased to hear from you. It would take up only one or two hours of your time. Please contact Isabel at 087 7525200.

At our meeting in May at the Tara Towers Hotel, Booterstown, Professor Greg Swanwick, Dean of College of Psychiatrists of Ireland gave a talk entitled - Parkinson’s: How might a psychiatrist be of help? This is a very sensitive topic and the talk was very well received.

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We hope to get Professor Swanwick to write an article for a future issue of the Parkinson’s Magazine. The next members meeting is on Sunday 29th September at Tara Towers Hotel. We will have a speaker dealing with the topic of communication difficulties. Members will be informed by Bulletin in due course.

PORTMARNOCK NEWS

We are a small support group based in Portmarnock. We hold monthly meetings which usually involves a short presentation followed by a general discussion.

We recommenced on Tuesday 3rd September 2013 in Naomh Mearnog GAA Club, Portmarnock at 8.00 pm. The topic was the value of exercise for PD patients.

Our meetings are open to anyone connected with PD. If you require further details please contact Tony 01- 8463513 and 087 7953 302.

CORNELSCOURT NEWS

Aoife and Kevin Crowley have established a support group for Cornelscourt and adjacent areas. Contact Aoife at 01-2893642 for details.

Contact John O’Mahony 01-2852902

MAYO NEWSCelebrity Charity Chair Auction & Gala Dinner

We are holding a Celebrity Charity Chair Auction and Gala Dinner on 25th October at Dromoland Castle. For more information contact Maria Nolan on 086 803 2072. Email

[email protected]

Nursing Home Staff Parkinson’s Training

Alison Cashell, Parkinson’s Nurse provided training to Nursing Home staff in Co Mayo on the 12th and 13 August.

For those Homes that were not able to make this round of training, there will be a second session later in the year.

End of Winter Secession Party

It was time to forget about our pains and aches and have a party. A great time was had by all, we ate great food, we danced, we sang and I can’t wait for the next party at Christmas.

Items planned for the remainder of the year:

A talk from Citizens Information on your rights/entitlement as a disabled person

Exercise classes to be held in Castlebar.

Contact Marian Newman 087-3157666

TIPPERARY BRANCH The branch had planned a summer break after our Annual Mass in the chapel of the Assumption, Thurles but three athletic men had other ideas when they decided to do a sponsored cycle from Mizen Head to Malin Head in aid of the Tipperary Branch of Parkinson’s and Roscrea Wheelchair Association.

Our thanks to Sean Delaney, a nephew of one of our branch members, Eamonn O’Murchu, and Lawerence Vesey and their driver David Twomey who set out for Malin Head on Tuesday 6th August and finished in Malin Head on Friday 9th August a day ahead of the scheduled cycle. Well done lads and thank you very much it is much appreciated.

A social and presentation night will be organised late September or early October and all will have an opportunity to meet and thank the quartet personally.

A special word of thanks to the members, friends and supporters of Roscrea Wheelchair Association and Tipperary Parkinson’s for all their efforts in obtaining sponsorship. It is very difficult to fundraise in the present economic climate.

On their arrival in Nenagh while passing through Tipperary they were welcomed by both Mayors of Nenagh Town Council Jimmy Moran and North Tipperary Co. Co. Mayor Ger Darcy, Noel Coonan TD , Cllr. Virginia O’Dowd and Tom Mulqueen, along with representatives from Roscrea Wheelchair Assoc. and P.A.I. members.

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We must not forget the gallant ladies from Holycross and Upperchurch areas who participated in the Women’s Mini Marathon in aid of the branch.

Set dancing classes will commence in September please contact Marion Burke 087 2967296. On her last visit to Nenagh we had a very large attendance plus many from outside our branch area.

Friday 27th September Neurologist Dr. Helena Moore will be Guest Speaker in the Abbey Court Hotel Nenagh commencing at 7.30pm admission is free. This meeting is open to all P.A.I. members family, friends and Carers and especially recently diagnosed patients.

Sunday 10th November South Tipperary Vintage Club are having a Tractor run in aid of our branch funds.

In our recent newsletter to the members we invited nominations/volunteers to join our committee from all parts of Tipperary. We require assistance in organising branch meetings in Mid / South Tipperary i.e. Clonmel, Cahir, etc.

Evelyn Norton Senior Speech & Language Therapist HSE Mid West has organised a series of Parkinson’s voice groups sessions in North Tipperary which have been most beneficial to all the participants.

SPECIAL NOTICEA Parkinson’s patient from North Tipperary wishing to participate in this group must be referred by their GP or Parkinson’s Specialist Nurse Mags Richardson or their Neurologist.

Contact Marion Burke 087 2967296

SOUTH KERRY NEWSAfter a successful fashion show in Killarney, with over 100 hundred people attending, we hope to have a repeat show at a later date.

We enjoyed a day trip to Cork and Cobh where we had lunch and tea.

Our deepest sympathy goes out to Mrs. Lynch and her family on the death of her husband Pat, a much loved member of our group.

Jack and Grace McCrae will be attending a Parkinson’s meeting in Somerset, England where Grace has been asked to speak.

In September we will be laying the plaque in front of the Aspen tree that was planted in the grounds of the I.T. College in Tralee to mark World Parkinson’s day and to remember all people with Parkinson’s.

A big thank you goes to Michael Moynihan on his hard work in making the plaque.

Contact Grace McCrae 064-7758837

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Tipperary Branch Members undertook a sponsored cycle from Mizen Head to Malin Head in aid of the Tipperary Branch of Parkinson’s and Roscrea Wheelchair Association.

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Research News: Irish scientists awarded major EU funding for Parkinson’s research

SCIENCE

The European Union has agreed to fund an interdisciplinary research program into the fundamental causes of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology in Trinity College Dublin, led by Dr Gavin Davey, have secured €3.8 million funding for a prestigious Marie Curie PhD training network project, Training in Neurodegeneration, Therapeutics Intervention and Neurorepair (TINTIN). The research focus is on the dopamine neuron and the role it plays in Parkinson’s disease, as well as other dopamine related conditions in the brain.There is an urgent need to produce a new generation of scientists with multidisciplinary skillsets so they can discover the fundamental mechanisms that underlie major diseases and disorders in society. TINTIN will train 12 PhD students and 2 postdoctoral scientists how to undertake research projects on metabolism, neurodegeneration, computational biology, stem cell biology, neurotherapeutics and neurorepair systems.The plan is to provide expert training for junior researchers so that they will develop the necessary skillsets required to make discoveries in how and why neurodegeneration takes place in the Parkinson’s brain. Along the way, the participating laboratories in 8 universities will work closely with 7 companies that specialize in biological discoveries and drug development.It’s been just over 2 years since the Vatican organized a meeting on ‘Neuroprotection

for Parkinson’s disease’ where some of the world’s leading scientists and clinicians gathered to discuss the latest advances in Parkinson’s research. In the Pontifical Academy of Science in Vatican City the participants presented their latest research on neurodegeneration mechanisms, surgical interventions, early

biomarkers of Parkinson’s and human stem cell interventions. Since then, new therapeutics are being tested and used by patients with Parkinson’s, however, there is still a major deficiency in our knowledge of the fundamental cause of Parkinson’s.The funding of TINTIN is the latest reaction by the EU to address this deficit and the hope is that using this new multidisciplinary approach TINTIN researchers will discover new targets in neurodegeneration that will facilitate repair and regeneration of neuronal systems in the Parkinson’s brain.

Prior funding by members of the PAI is gratefully acknowledged by the Davey laboratory in Trinity. It has facilitated basic research over the previous 4 years, enabling new funding to be accessed through EU mechanisms.

Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute

Dr Gavin Davey

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CHRISTMAS CONCERTUPCOMING EVENTS

5th December 2013 – Red Cow Inn, Co. DublinWe are delighted to announce that we have secured the services of the Army No1 Band to lead us in an evening of entertainment to kick off the Christmas season. The band is led by Captain Fergal Carroll. In addition to the Army No1 Band we have a number of other guests, who have

kindly agreed to entertain us. These being none other than the prolific Shay Healy and Katherine Lynch who helped launch Parkinson’s Awareness week. Katherine has now embarked on a new career as a singer/songwriter.

We will also be joined by Movers for Shakers Voice Club who recently featured in a Sea Shanty festival in Sligo.

In all, this should be a fantastic evening. Tickets are priced at €20, and these can be booked through our national office by tel: 01 8722234 .

For those who wish to stay over, the hotel is offering the rates of €85.00 for a single room or €90.00 for a double room you can book directly through the hotel at Tel 01 4593650 or Email [email protected]

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Sea Shanty FestivalNEWS EXTRAMovers for Shakers Mid-West Voice Club participate in Sea Shanty Festival at Rosses Point, Co Sligo.Our first formal public event was a subject of some research to locate a venue. We didn’t want too formal an event and certainly were not ready for any competition that awarded places based on performance. We seemed to locate just the thing at Rosses Point i.e. a fundraiser in aid of the RNLI with a casual, even leisurely programme of music, song and above all, FUN.

The schedule included late night sessions in the villages’ three pubs (Harry’s, Austies, the Waterfront, plus the Yeats Hotel ) and got off to a slow start because the Heavens opened up with a deluge that was prolonged and inhibited “pub crawling”, an essential occupation for shanty singers. Experienced locals predicted long bouts of clear sunshine for the remainder of the weekend. They were spot on; the Saturday was the first day of our heat wave. “Blissful” describes the ambiance for the rest of the weekend.

Willie Murphy, Head Bottle Washer of the Shanty Festival and a long time local volunteer with the RNLI, marked our cards perfectly when we first contacted him in January last for information. We booked in to the Yeats on his advice (a great move) and he slotted us into “an intimate concert” at the Church of Ireland Church, located on a superb site at the entrance to the Village. We were first on the menu there (thanks Willie) but managed to sing in tune with top volume achieved on our signature tune “The Mingulay Boat song”. We were applauded roundly and hoped it was genuine.

On Saturday we were invited to sing at The Literary Event (local and visiting poets and authors) and again were warmly applauded for our full repertoire of songs. That night the Gala

International Shanty Concert featuring all the local talent plus the full International talent e.g. Monkey’s Fist (UK), Drunken Sailors (Germany), Eight Bells (an all-girl local talented group), Patrick and Miguel (France), a powerful twosome with a vast selection of shanties.

The weekend included workshops, set dancing, a memorial service and a Blessing of the Boats, swimming round the “Point”, a Sea Scouts Duck Race, a tour of the Life Boat Station, rowing races and finally a Bar-B-Que in the glorious sunshine.

The Mid Western Parkinson’s Voice Club Shanty singers consisted of 5 couples from Mid-West (from left)

J Mulcahy, B Callan B McCaffrey, Con Kealy, B Rice. Tim McMahon, E Kirwan, K McCaffrey, J Rice, I Kirwan, M Mulcahy and our Music Director Ed Rice.

We would like to congratulate our Voice Club Coach Julie Tiernan for selecting our repertoire and rehearsing us so encouragingly while expecting her new baby, Mags.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= H2rxrBTbkBU

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CROSSWORD COMPETITIONWIN A €25 VOUCHER

Crossword Clues ACROSS1 Shade of Orange used to paint the Golden Gate Bridge (13)5 Venue for this year’s EPDA Conference (6)7 According to NAI, May was “Month of the ...” (5)8 What type of creature is a yellow- shafted Flicker? (4)11 Famous Irish stone worth kissing! (7)13 Envy is said to be a deadly what? (3)16 Number of soccer players per team (6)17 007 is a famous one (3)18 Main sponsor of the Women’s Mini Marathon (5)19 Who called in for a pint of black in Moneygall? (5)20 Our pins and pendants are crafted from this sterling mineral. (6)22 Comedian Lynch who helped launch our Unity Walk in April (9)

24 Irish talk show host, spokesperson for the Road Safety Authority (3,5)25 2010 in Roman Numerals (3)

Crossword Clues DOWN2 Number of people needed for a three-legged race (3)

3 Who represented Ireland in the Eurovision this year? (4,5)

4 The Book of Kells was originally written in what language? (5)

6 Midday (4)

9 Who discovered Australia? (5,4)

10 They will guide you. (5)

12 This is very important for everyone, especially those with PD (8)

14 Finished (4)

15 Common name for Influenza (3)

21 Basic white sauce (4)

23 Maiden Name (3)

CROSSWORD COMPETITION ENTRY FORMSend your completes CROSSWORD to Parkinson’s Association of Ireland, Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7.€25 one4all Voucher to the first entry drawn on 31st October 2013.

Name

Address

Crossword solutions for Summer edition:Across: 1.Rogues Gallery, 8. Pert, 9. Bloomers, 10. Timeliness, 12. Meagre, 14. Rumple, 15. Neon Lights, 19. Brainbox, 20. Zany, 21. Inverted Comma.Down: 2. One Liner, 3. Untie, 4. Sublime, 5. Abode, 6. Lump Sum, 7. Rare, 11. Platinum, 13. Gunfire, 14. Relaxed, 16. Orbit, 17. Gizmo, 18. Grin.

Parkinson’s Association of Ireland Parkinson’s Association of Ireland

Christmas Order Form 2013

This classic adjustable pendant comes with all the elegance associated with Newbridge Silverware and makes an ideal gift at any time.

Postage & Packing €5.00 per item

€35.00 each

€10.00 each€6.00 per pack of 15 cards

€20.00 each

These unisex pins can be used as a tie pins or on the lapel. Displaying the simple and elegant Aspen Leaf logo which is the symbol of the Parkinson’s Association, these pins are both unique and meaningful.

Postage & Packing €5.00 per item

This delightful children’s book is now available for purchase. A great read for children, this makes an ideal gift at Christmas or indeed any time of year.

Payments by Cheque or Postal Order should be made payable to ‘Parkinson’s Association of Ireland’ and sent to our head office (address above) • Closing date for receipt of orders is December 10th

Postage & Packing €1.35 per item (for multiple orders, please telephone the office)Postage & Packing €2.00 per pack up to 2 packs50c per pack thereafter

“Chicken”

Newbridge Silverware PENDANT

NAME TELEPHONE

ADDRESS

CHILDREN’S BOOK CHRISTMAS CARDS

Quantity Total

Total (inc. P&P)

Total (inc. P&P)

Total (inc. P&P)

Total (inc. P&P)

Quantity Total

Quantity Total

Quantity Total

LAPEL/TIE PIN

Credit/Laser Card Details Please contact us on freephone 1800 359 359, if you have any queries

Expiry Date

Parkinson’s Association of Ireland, Carmichael House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7. Freephone 1800 359359.

Grand Total to be deducted (Including P&P) € CVC

Beautifully designed and manufactured in Ireland by All Print

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pai winter 09 pages1-7:Layout 1 07/09/2010 16:42 Page 1

This October sees the launch of the 3rd MyLegacy Best Will in the World Week.

This week runs from the 21st - 25th October and is supported by solicitors across the country.

The scheme works as follows:

s From September Solicitors who have signed up to the scheme will provide a will writing service for a fee of €50.

s The Parkinson’s Association of Ireland have signed up to this scheme and we would encourage anyone writing a will to consider leaving a gift to the association in their will.

For further information and details of participating solicitors visit www.bestwill.ie or www.parkinsons.ie for the link.

Best Will in the World

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