Living with Parkinson's is not easy. The neurological disease leaves people with tremors, confusion, mood swings, loss of balance, stiff muscles and joints, and slowed movements to the point where it may become impossible to write, drive or even hold a glass of water.
"The thing I want people to know is that if I stagger, I'm not drunk," said Burnaby resident Linda Dawson, who runs the local support group. "I really appreciate it when people are empathetic. If I take a long time to do things, I'm not slow on purpose."
More than 100,000 Canadians have Parkinson's, and approximately 11,000 of them live in B.C. Those numbers are expected to double by 2016, according to the Parkinson Society British Columbia.
There's no known cure - just medication to treat the symptoms, which can cost $1,000 a month.
According to the society, brain diseases like Parkinson's cost the Canadian healthcare system more than $30 billion annually.
April is Parkinson's awareness month, and the Parkinson Society British Columbia, a non-profit registered charity, is seeking donations to further its work. The society helps those with Parkinson's, educates the public about the disease and supports scientific research for a cure. For more information, go to www.parkinson.bc.ca.
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