We recently received a touching email from Francis, a friend of Cándido, who is one of our cherished CUE1 users. With Francis’s permission, we’d like to share his words with you. Good afternoon Lucy, First of all, thank you very much for your time dedicated to Cándido. You cannot imagine what your visit represents in the life of Candido. He knows, he is very, very intelligent, that his life is already a marked calendar, life is terrible inside him. It is a prison, as I was telling you two yesterday, from which he can never escape again, i.e. a jail. For more than a decade I took care of m ..read more

We had the pleasure of spending an afternoon discussing support groups with Elaine Payne, chair of Friends of Parkies based on the border of North Shropshire and South Clwyd. Elaine shares the significance of Parkinson’s support groups, what unfolds in these gatherings, and how to find them. How did you get started? How did you start bringing people into the group, and is it more general discussions, or do you focus on specific topics? Elaine: The group was already up and running when I was diagnosed. For two years after my diagnosis, I was absolutely in denial, in shock. It took me two year ..read more

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Jeff Crow, one of our long-term CUE1 users, to hear more about his journey and how his CUE1 has supported him. Jeff’s story originally made waves on BBC and ITV news in April 2023. ? Recently, Jeff and his wife, Gill, visited Charco, sharing their experiences living with Parkinson’s and how the CUE1 has made a difference. Jeff’s visit left us inspired by his positive attitude and approach to life. It was a heartening reminder of the strength within all of us.  Embracing Change and Acceptance Jeff’s journey with Parkinson’s began with a notic ..read more

We’re excited to introduce you to Sue Rossiter, a golfer living with Parkinson’s, who has been given a remarkable opportunity—to represent England in the prestigious Four Nations Golf Tournament charity event. We’re excited to join her on this remarkable journey, supporting her every step of the way. Sue’s Story Sue embodies more than just a passion for golf; she’s a dedicated mother to two, a cherished grandmother to four, and a loving wife to one. Seven years ago, her life took an unexpected turn when she received a Parkinson’s diagnosis. Looking back, she suspects that she may have been ..read more

From the moment we first met Keith, a wonderful gentleman with Parkinson’s, keeping a personal connection has been at the heart of everything we do at Charco. We believe that staying engaged with you is the most crucial aspect of our mission. That’s why we organise open days each month and actively participate in local Parkinson’s foundation events and groups. As a part of this personal engagement, we go for a hand-delivery of the CUE1. This is an opportunity to interact with you personally. Here we take you behind the scenes of our visits to help set up the CUE1, and what our team and communi ..read more

One of the first things I noticed having Parkinson’s is the massive impact it has on self confidence and how you socialise with others. I fully admit, in the early days, I just really wanted to be able to step off the carousel, compose myself, then step back on, but life just doesn’t work that way, does it? We all have our own way of dealing with difficulties we face; mine is to face everything head on, no compromise. My family clan motto is nemo me lacessit, ‘I do not yield to anyone’, and as far as Parkinson’s is concerned, it is my motto for life. One of the more annoying symptoms you can ..read more

During a trip to the US, we were lucky enough to meet with several organisations and community members, including Kasey. We were impressed with how she had organised the care of her mother, Billy, who lives with Parkinson’s. We caught up with her to find out more about the technology she uses, how she has set up a system for Billy’s care, and what advice she would give to those who are keen to follow her example. ‘As independent as possible’ “I was looking for ways to keep them as independent as possible”, Kasey tells us from her home in Kansas. Billy, having lived with Parkinson’s for the ..read more

Dave runs the London Landmarks half marathon Go to London, they said, run the London Landmarks half marathon, they said, it’s absolutely fantastic, they said… After the weekend in the capital, which included watching my football team lose in a top of the table clash (Carlisle United?), we (that’s me and Helen – my wife) dragged ourselves out of bed on Sunday morning to take part in the London Landmarks half Marathon. It never ceases to amaze me how people who live in London appear to live at a faster pace than those of us who live (a lot) further North. People were rushing around at 9am on a ..read more

We talked to Kate Swindlehurst, author of The Tango Effect and a long time tango aficionada, about her Parkinson’s, her literary career, and what makes tango so effective for those with the condition. “A dance of close embrace” “It was an accident, really- I had wanted to learn salsa”. Like many of the most interesting parts of life, Kate came across tango unexpectedly. Having been a teacher for many years, Kate took the opportunity to travel to Mexico and teach there for a year, igniting a love for Latin American culture and an interest in salsa dancing. When she returned home, however, sh ..read more

Ollie and Dave do Scotland… Ok, I bet that got your attention? Working for Charco has its benefits, the least of which that I’ve recently found is the ability to really make someone’s day special. The Community Support team has been doing this for a while now. They are the hardy souls who travel to all points on the compass in the UK, delivering the CUE1 in-person to those who request their CUE1 to be delivered by a member (or sometimes two) of the Community Support team. I was recently asked to join them, and of course I accepted- this is an honest account of what we got up to on our Scottish ..read more