Young Parkinsons Sufferer Raises Awareness

A Hull man diagnosed with Parkinsons at just 35 years old is calling for more support for young sufferers.

Darren Hoult developed the disease back in 2009.

Despite being one of around 400 young sufferers in the UK who get the disease - he thinks there does need to be more help on offer.

He says people must be aware that it is a disease that also effects the young.

Darren told Viking FM:

"I didn't take it in at first and then it hit me and a couple of days later I thought I better check on this. I went back to the consultant and thought this can't be right as I assumed it was a disease that just affected the older generation, but it turned out that it was Parkinsons.

"I had a limp and thought nothing of it as I'd had it a while but my dad made me go and get it checked out by a doctor. It got investigated and a few months down the line I was diagnosed with Parkinsons.

"I thought I was fit, young and healthy and then all of a sudden I was diagnosed with Parkinsons. I've had to give a lot of things up, I gave up work and I also lost my driving licence. I went through bouts of depression, my balance is no good and I can't play football with my kids. I used to take the dog for a walk and I can't do this anymore, I can't even make a cup of tea or coffee as I can't lift the kettle."

He says when he was diagnosed there was nowhere he could go to for help:

"When I was first diagnosed I emailed around and there was no support services available. The nearest young person's support group was either in Wakefield or Harrogate but there was nothing in the Hull area.

"It's about getting the awareness out there that young people do suffer with it. When I met with my consultant he told me that someone who is just 16 has been diagnosed with Parkinsons."

It's also as new research shows over half of sufferers in Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire have experienced some form of hostility or rudeness from the public.

Darren told us this is something he's also experienced:

"My friend got a t-shirt made saying that he's not drunk, he has Parkinsons. If I walk with my stick or go on my scooter people look at me and think, because I'm young, that there's nothing wrong with me and I'm just lazy. People should take the time to ask me and I'll happily tell them about my condition."