From high-octane skiing to walking football – via table tennis lessons and golf's Parkinson's mulligan – the Movers and Shakers have plenty of experience with the world of sports. But with such a mixed ability group, are they getting the most out of the sporting offerings of the Parkinson's community? And what does taking up a sport offer, socially, in addition to the obvious fitness benefits? For this episode of Movers and Shakers, we're joined by a host of sporting luminaries, from the captain of the England Parky walking football team to a former captain of the Australian cricket team.
By Podot
Each week Rory Cellan-Jones guides us between the laughs and moans in the pub. To read Rory's summary of this week's episode click here.
Guest biographies
Professor Nick Taylor
When Professor Nick Taylor was diagnosed with Parkinson’s 10 years ago, he never dreamed he’d play football for England.
His first thought was that it was ‘the end.’ But after he read a tweet about the possibility of playing football, Nick joined up with other people living with Parkinson’s through social media to start a walking football team called the Pennine Parkies.
The team got the opportunity to play in a national Parkinson’s walking football tournament at St George’s Park in March 2022 and he was later selected for the England team – something he had “never dreamed of”. Nick, a professor in the School of Law, said:
“With Parkinson’s you often think – certainly when you get it – that’s it, that’s the end… so, if there’s an opportunity to play football again, it’s just brilliant.”
Staying active is one of the best ways to slow down some of the degenerative effects of Parkinson’s, and the social aspect of playing is also very important.
Nick added: “You tend to shrink away from social activities when you’re first diagnosed. You see people coming out of the shadows to play when you know full well they would otherwise be slipping into the background.”
Looking ahead, Nick now wants to raise greater awareness of Parkinson’s walking football wherever possible. Interest in Parkinson’s sport generally is also growing and it attracts people of all ages.
Source: University of Leeds
Allan Border AO
Allan Border AO. 68, was for many years the captain of the Australia cricket team, and led them to victory in the 1987 Cricket World Cup, the maiden world title for Australia. He played 156 Test matches in his career, a record until it was passed by fellow Australian Steve Waugh. In his Test career he amassed 11,174 Test runs - a world record which stood for 15 years - hitting 27 centuries. He retired in 1994 as Australia's most-capped player and leading run-scorer in both Tests and ODIs. Following retirement he became a knowledgeable cricket commentator. In June 2023 he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2016.
Click play to listen to the full uncut interview with Allan Border AO here:
Walking Football & Me
By Professor Nick Taylor
The benefits of exercise for the alleviation of some of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease seem to be widely accepted. For an increasing number that exercise comes through Walking Football. A non running, no contact sport provides an ideal opportunity for exercise. Much, much more than this is the camaraderie that playing team sports brings. Shared exercise, shared goals, shared experiences bring so much more than exercise alone. The Parkinson's England walking football team was established in 2022 with the aim of inspiring individuals to take up the sport and join an increasing number of local teams. A national cup competition now takes place every April at St George's Park for teams across the country and each summer a European Cup (The Ray Kennedy Shield) is held. In 2023 it was won in Liverpool by the Pennine Parkies taking on a team from Copenhagen in the final. In September the first Scottish Cup for Parkinson's teams was held in Glasgow. It borders on the unbelievable to see someone struggling to walk at 9am, celebrating a goal at 11am. More, the impact of socialising again brings people a joy that the condition works hard to deny.
The Parkinson's England team plays both domestically and internationally, winning the South East Asia walking football tournament in Singapore in April 2023. The team often plays against non PD teams but as the sport grows so it is hoped new teams will develop. To experience football again is amazing, to do so at international level is one of those incredible silver linings that can attend this condition. Personally, I have experienced the absolute necessity of maintaining social interaction. Tragically I lost my wife in 2021 and I wanted nothing more than to disappear into the background where Parkinson's would envelope me. My football colleagues simply didn't allow it. They have provided support ever since in ways that cannot be quantified. The Parkinson's journey is tough, but friendships and socialising make it so much more bearable. To captain that England team and score the winning goal in the European Cup Final - well they are highs that sometimes makes you wonder why Parkinson's also brings such highs amongst the lows. It something more than a silver lining.
For more information about getting involved as a player, carer or sponsor see @ParkinsonsPride on X.
Sport Parkinson's
At Sports Parkinson's they believe in finding a cure and keeping fit and healthy while you wait. Building a community that focuses on the health, fun and well-being of its community and coming together to fundraise for Cure Parkinson UK. www.sportparkinsons.com
Our guest, Charlie Appleyard of Sport Parkinson’s, has been instrumental in getting Parkies involved in a range of sports, including golf and cricket, and thinks that it is the social aspect of these activities that matters most.
If you want to know more about England’s Parkinson’s walking football team this video by David Sangster is a useful guide:
Table Tennis
Following the release of our episode on Sport, one of our listeners informed us that Table Tennis was equally as good at helping fellow Parkies with hand-eye coordination, reaction time and balance, as well as the accessibility and social aspect of the game. Apparently there are international tournaments with hundreds of competitors! If you want to get involved with Table Tennis for people with Parkinson's you can find out more here.
If you live in Leeds our listener has provided us with their very own local group
Leeds ParkyPING! Click here for more details.
Cricket
Do you live in Kent?
Cricket For All have funding from Sport England to deliver cricket for adults in Kent who live with Parkinson's, MS and similar neurodegenerative conditions.
We have indoor net sessions run by experienced coaches at Polo Farm in Canterbury from 6pm to 7pm on Sundays in April 2024. They are open to anyone regardless of gender or experience and we can provide any kit to those who need it.
If you know of any more great sports for Parkies do get in touch by commenting on our episode page or e-mailing us at feedback@moversandshakerspodcast.com.