The Big Sing comes to Huddersfield as eight choirs gather to mark World Parkinson’s Day on Friday April 11.

Organisers are expecting over 100 singers at the event, which will take place at Cathedral House from 10am to 12noon.

The Big Sing will be led by celebrated opera singer Bibi Heal, whose Songs That Move therapies have a focus on Parkinson’s.

The Big Sing choirs will be joined by ‘Movers & Shakers’ podcaster Mark Mardell, who is living with Parkinson’s.

Together they will sing a specially adapted version of Gloria Gaynor’s disco classic ‘I Will Survive’, with revised lyrics from the Movers & Shakers. The song has already been made into a film.

The Movers & Shakers are six friends – journalists Rory Cellan-Jones, Mark Mardell and Jeremy Paxman; entrepreneur Gillian Lacey-Solymar; co-writer of TV comedy the Vicar of Dibley Paul Mayhew-Archer; and retired High Court judge Sir Nicholas Mostyn. They all have Parkinson’s and meet up on a podcast to share their experiences.

Movers & Shakers are also organising a Big Sing in Westminster on World Parkinson’s Day. Their mission is to convince MPs and the Government to act faster in helping people with Parkinson’s by adopting their Parky Charter.

As part of their campaign, they have launched an official petition and need 100,000 signatures to get a debate in Parliament.

The idea for a Yorkshire version of The Big Sing came from Liz Ryan MBE and her husband Dr Chris Ryan, chair of the Parkinson’s UK Huddersfield branch.

The couple, from Meltham, enjoy singing and decided to join forces with several choirs to increase the impact of the Parky Charter and the petition created by the Movers & Shakers.

Liz, a former chair of governors at Honley High School who was awarded the MBE for services to education, has lived with Parkinson’s for 20 years.

She said: “I am a committed Movers & Shakers fan and their version of ‘I Will Survive’ is both funny and serious. They are making a point on behalf of many people with Parkinson’s who receive inadequate medical provision.

“Right here in Huddersfield, we do not have a neurologist at our local hospital. On World Parkinson’s Day, we are inviting a number of local politicians and senior hospital managers, who have the power to change things, to join us in making a serious point whilst having fun.”

Liz and Chris recently met with Colne Valley MP Paul Davies who has written to both Kirklees Council and Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust to ask what more can be done to support Parkinson’s patients.

He also pledged to speak to the Department for Health on what the Government can do concerning regular consultations and better medication management for the disease.

Former BBC journalist Mark Mardell, a familiar face to TV viewers, said: “This is such a brilliant idea, so when Liz asked if any of us could come to Huddersfield, I leapt at the chance.

“As much as I enjoyed last year’s stagger up to the steps of No10, this promises to be even better. I apologise in advance for my dreadful singing voice but will give it my best.”

Sarah Hill, area development manager at Parkinson’s UK, added: “We are delighted that Mark can join us on the day. “There are 153,000 people living with Parkinson’s in the UK, including around 11,450 in Yorkshire, and 1,430 people who are newly diagnosed each year.

“By supporting The Big Sing both locally and in London, our aim is not only to raise our voices but also awareness on World Parkinson’s Day and to show that we are here for the Parkinson’s community.”

Parkinson’s is a complex brain condition that gets worse over time. It’s the fastest growing neurological condition in the world, affecting 153,000 people in the UK. It has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety, and there is currently no cure.