British colonel with Parkinson’s disease heads to West Africa to help battle the stigma of PD.
Documentary - A British colonel’s solo voyage across Africa, fighting Parkinson’s stigma
By Guy Deacon C.B.E.
The world needs to be more aware of the devastating effects Parkinson’s disease has on an individual’s entire being. And, we must fight the stigma’s associated with Parkinson’s disease and its symptoms. This documentary will achieve both.
I’m Guy Deacon, a retired British Army Colonel on a mission to raise awareness about the realities of living with Parkinson’s disease both in the UK and Africa. I have already driven over five thousand miles from England to Sierra Leone crossing the snowy passes of the Atlas Mountains, the deserts of the Western Sahara and the sahel of Senegal to demonstrate that having Parkinson’s disease need not dominate my life. The challenge was significantly greater than I had foreseen but nothing compared to what is to come.
I was evacuated from Sierra Leone in April 2020 following the outbreak of COVID-19. So, I have lost two years, but this just makes me more determined than ever to complete the next seven thousand miles to South Africa. Since I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011 every aspect of life has become slowly but inexorably more difficult. There will be a time in the future when I can no longer drive and I will become dependent on others, but that time is not yet and I will not let Parkinson’s disease stop me from living a full life.
“The worst thing about Parkinson’s isn’t the physical side. The physical side is really boring. But, it is the affect it has on your desire to be with other people and to enjoy life. And it destroys that. It undermines your confidence and you think of yourself as being unworthy of people’s attention and care. It undermines your self esteem. I hate that about it.”
Listen to Guy’s Podcast for Updates
Three things this documentary will highlight
1) The mental and physical toll that Parkinson’s disease takes upon an individual’s body and mind, as I overcome the physical and mental challenges on this gruelling journey.
2) The challenges faced by those in Africa living with Parkinson’s disease, many of whom are stigmatised by the disease’s symptoms and alienated by society. But it will also give voice to the wonderful work being done by those dedicated health workers who are addressing the condition, in the most difficult environments and hard to reach places. During my journey I’ll be highlighting the work of the African charities who support those living with Parkinson’s with limited access to help.
3) Countries which are little known to a western audience, all of which possess stunning scenery, spectacular ecosystems and fascinating histories.
