Parkinson’s UK in Birmingham to mark World Parkinson’s Day

Two of Birmingham’s most iconic buildings, The Library of Birmingham and Birmingham Cathedral are supporting World Parkinson’s Day on Thursday 11 April by lighting up cyan blue, the colours of Parkinson’s UK and hopes that the local community will come together to raise help awareness of the condition.

Parkinson’s is a serious and progressive neurological condition with more than 40 symptoms that affects people of all ages. Currently there is no cure.

Parkinson’s UK is the leading charity driving better care, treatments and quality of life for those with the condition.

Gayle Kelly, Regional Fundraiser, at Parkinson’s UK Birmingham said:

We are so happy that two of our city’s most prominent and recognisable buildings, The Library of Birmingham and Birmingham Cathedral, are supporting us and helping to raise awareness. We would love people to come and see them lit up, take photographs and talk about World Parkinson’s Day. The Library will be lit up from dusk until dawn and the cathedral will be lit up inside all day.”

The Birmingham community is also backing Parkinson’s UK’s national Parkinson’s Is campaign, which aims to shatter public misconceptions about the condition by highlighting the reality of everyday life for those living with it.

The campaign has been launched in response to frustrations from people with Parkinson’s that the condition is viewed as “just the shakes”.

According to recent research from Parkinson’s UK, 8 in 10 people with Parkinson’s believe that awareness and understanding is low because people don’t consider it to be a serious condition – and only associate it with one symptom – a tremor.

A spokesperson from The Library of Birmingham said: “We are pleased to offer our support to Parkinson’s UK with a special lightning of the Library on the 11th April in cyan blue to mark World Parkinson Day.”

For more information about charity Parkinson’s UK’s new Parkinson’s Is campaign visit www.parkinsons.org.uk