A Story By Neil Fitzsimon:
Dear Maureen,
Concerning our very short mention of a charity "think tank" idea during drinks on my back patio after working on our respective gardens, I have an idea of my own. Considering the distance to my Support Group meetings and my diminishing driving skills, I have often thought of starting a group in Uxbridge. I'm not certain that the numbers would be sufficien
t although it would be open to PD (Parkinson's Disease) sufferers, care-givers and interested persons. Myself, my friend in Zephyr (who I would like you to meet) and a man whose photo was in the paper would all be candidates. I would envisage your role as being a sponsor to the "Uxbridge Parkinson's Support Group" (not monetarily). We would need a meeting room for one afternoon per month. I could go on but I'll await your instant reaction. With your great skill and perspicacity, I am certain that you will be ale to tell me if it is a great step of Einsteinian proportion or just a "dumb idea". Well I sure hope it's Einsteinian otherwise we have now a dumb idea up and running. This was the first fragment of correspondence between my neighbour Maureen Gilleece and me. I was somewhat excited at the prospect of actually doing something positive. Driving to meetings in Markham in the Winter months was scary for elderly folk. Would I (we) get a sufficient number of PWP's (people with Parkinson's) as well as care -givers and other interested persons to start a Support Group? Maureen certainly sounded keen so it was with great trepidation that I rushed to my computer to E-mail " the gal next door " as sort of a litmus test. The response was immediate and genuine which promoted e-mails back and forth. I had planted the seed and it started to grow . Maureen began printing flyers for shop windows and was pleased to get help from Laurie Sharrard who sadly had to leave us after three years due to other commitments. We allocated and shared the necessary logical steps. My recruitment skills were suspect. Where to begin ? My first phone call about a photo in an old local newspaper of a PWP told me the gentleman had passed away. Not a great start. However by word of mouth and the flyers we soon had numerous inquiries. We had advertised the first Thursday in November (2008) and had no meeting venue. With only days to go I was interviewed and an article appeared in The Cosmos paper. Things fell into place. We have been meeting for three years and are most grateful for our meeting place which was generously donated by the residents of Bridgewater. There are 27 members at present and our twice-yearly pot-luck lunches are legendary. WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER – Neil Fitzsimon
