By Lia Bichel
THE Old Cheese Factory was packed with people on Saturday who wanted to get their hands on an educational and hilarious book by a local woman with Parkinson’s Disease.
Anne Atkin wrote and illustrated the book, ‘Living and Laughing with Parkinson’s’ to try and help others to live with, and even find humour in the disease that she was diagnosed with five years ago.
Ms Atkin, 60, had a book signing at Collins Book Shop in Berwick on Thursday before officially launching it on Saturday. More than 100 copies have already been sold.
“I am really rapt. A lot of people who bought the book don’t have Parkinson’s or don’t know anyone besides me who has it,” she said.
“I would like to think it is educating people about the disease.”
The book is made up of cartoons which details the symptoms she had and funny things that occurred to her because of the disease.
Ms Atkin said she did not want to downplay the seriousness of the disease, but believed laughter was the best medicine.
“Parkinson’s is extremely serious. You spend a lot of time, especially in the early days, depressed or crying,” she said.
“I find it helps if you can see the funny side of everything. I am not always upbeat, but humour helps to get through the bad days and relieves tensions and stress.”
Ms Atkin said she hoped the book not only helped people newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s, but helps their family as well.
“I hope the book will appeal to late primary and secondary college students who may have had a grandparent diagnosed,” she said.
“If people can look at the book and smile or laugh out loud, that’s great.”
Besides trying to reach people through her book, Ms Atkin runs a therapeutic art group called Painting with Parkinson’s in the City of Casey.
The class runs on Wednesdays, but is on a break until 20 July.
Ms Atkin currently is displaying her art in an exhibition of the foyer at Casey Council offices in Narre Warren.
Anyone wanting to purchase her book can do so at Collins Book Shop in Berwick or by contacting Parkinson’s Victoria on 9551 1122.
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