Anne on the go – Hallam resident Anne Atkin, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 56, is raising money for Parkinson’s Victoria by doing a charity walk this weekend. 50821Picture:

By Kelly Yates
ANNE Atkin won’t be getting any gifts for her birthday this year and instead the Hallam woman wants her friends and family to donate money to Parkinson’s Victoria.
Ms Atkin, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 56, is getting ready to do a charity walk from Federation Square in Melbourne along the Yarra River and back to raise some much needed funs for Parkinson’s Victoria.
The 60-year-old is staging her own charity walk this Saturday as she will be overseas when the official Parkinson’s 2010 Unity Walk on Sunday 29 August takes place.
The walk, which is a fundraiser and awareness raising event, is a way to show support for friends, family and colleagues living with Parkinson’s.
Ms Atkin, a retired-primary teacher and librarian, said she hoped to raise $5000 for the cause.
“The money will go to research and improving services as we need things like Parkinson’s specialist nurses and movement disorder clinics,” she said.
Ms Atkin said she was “gob smacked” when she heard about her diagnosis.
“I was standing with the neurologist in his office and I just froze,” she said.
“And it wasn’t until I got into my car and started driving home that it hit me and I began crying uncontrollably.”
With every passing year, Ms Atkin said, she found herself doing less and less.
“Sometimes, my husband has to do my bra up. Some days, I can’t even put my socks on,” she said.
“But I decided I couldn’t live my life being miserable so I started looking on the bright side.”
Ms Atkin started up ‘Painting with Parkinson’s’ in Victoria, which is art therapy for other people living with Parkinson’s.
She runs the classes at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick during the school terms.
“Art is beneficial for everyone. Parkinson’s affects the brain and art and painting is good for the brain,” she said.
“After four sessions, people realise they are more relaxed and they can find their own level of creativity.”
For details about the ‘Painting with Parkinson’s classes or to donate call Anne Atkin on 0409 188 317.