The Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Canterbury Charitable Trust (MSPC) hosted its first World Parkinson's Day celebration today.
Juggling, burpees and dancing to ‘Dance Monkey’ in Hagley Park were all part of a celebration for World Parkinson's Day today. People with Parkinson's, whanau and friends attended the MSPC event at the Multicultural Community Centre. Around 70 people joined in the physical and mental exercises that were selected to help keep Parkinson's sufferers social and active.
MSPC clinical exercise physiologist Amin Daneshfar says the first celebration went fabulously well.
"We were really lucky to have brilliant weather in Christchurch.
"We had a really great turn out...everybody loved the exercise.
"I think it was a fantastic event, and I hope people enjoyed it."
Exercise lead by AminImogen Brophy/NZBS
Several well-known Christchurch faces attended, including ex-All Black Andy Ellis, MP Hamish Campbell, and Director of BrainTree Wellness Centre, Simon Challies. BrainTree is home to businesses that supportpeople with various neurological conditions. Other orgainsiations such as Jolt (an inclusive dance company) and Brain Fit helped host exercise stations.
Daneshfar says Ellis was really surprised how well people with Parkinson's could manage difficult exercises.
Push ups at an exercise station Imogen Brophy/NZBS
Challies has Parkinson’s himself, and says the event was a great challenge for him.
"I came here to support Amin and the MS Parkinson’steam because they do a great job supporting people in the community.
"I feel like I needed a challenge as well because I do a lot of physical exercise but I am terrible on the coordination and dance."
He says the event was a good way to encourage people to try new things and step out of their comfort zone.
"It’s also good to have social contact with other people with the same conditions and to learn from their experience as well.”
Challies says it also encouraged people to join in who may not usually get involved.
Warming up before the exercise stationsImogen Brophy/NZBS
The event was part of a global movement from more than 80 countries to spark change for those experiencing Parkinson's. The aim of the movement is to stand up and speak out to end Parkinson's by breaking the stigma and fund medical solutions.
Daneshfar hopes to make it an annual event, alongside new activities including MS and Parkinson's specific ping pong, and is looking forward to further MS celebration opportunities.
