By Cam Lucadou-wells
THIS year’s Walk in the Park will be no ‘walk in the park’ for ambassador and perennial participant Anne Atkin.
Ms Atkin, of Hallam, is recovering from major brain surgery and a painful back injury, and will be confined to a motorised scooter for the major annual fund-raiser for Parkinson’s Victoria on 28 August.
Initially expecting to be an event scratching, she says she’s pleased to still be travelling in relative comfort during the scenic Yarra River route from Federation Square.
“A friend has just rang me to offer me a motorised scooter, so I’m looking forward to joining in.”
Ms Atkin, who also runs a Painting with Parkinson’s art group, has walked in all seven previous events.
Aside from three bulging discs in her back, Ms Atkin said she was recuperating well from her radical six-hour surgery in late May in which her brain was wired to an electricity-generating ‘pacemaker’.
The operation has freed her movement, though unsteadied her sense of balance.
She says her neurologist has sternly warned her not to climb due to her increased risk of falls.
“I really feel almost normal. It’s a problem because I forget to take a tablet or I start to run and trip over.”
Ms Atkin is putting her finishing touches to a book on her journey towards deciding to have surgery, including being badly shook up by a car crash.
Despite that ordeal, her story still manages to look at the “funny side of life”, she says.
About 3000 walkers are expected to register for A Walk In the Park, raising more than $100,000 for research towards finding a cure for Parkinson’s.
Ms Atkin, who is aiming to raise $500, says the foundation receives “very little” government funding.
To register go to melbourne.parkinsonswalk.com.au
To donate to Ms Atkin’s efforts, awitp-vic-2016.everydayhero.com/au/anne
