Rt Hon David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, attended the Parkinson’s UK 2017 Parliamentary Reception yesterday (6 December). 2017 marks 200 years since the first medical report of the condition by Dr James Parkinson in his essay ‘The Shaking Palsy’.

Mr Evennett spoke with representatives from the charity, including Chief Executive Steve Ford, and listened to a moving speech from Parkinson’s sufferer and writer Jessica Mann. Mr Evennett then visited the different ‘zones’ at the event, which were the ‘Quality services as standard’ zone, the ‘Empowerment to take control’ zone, and the ‘Better treatments and a cure’ zone. The three zones correspond to the priority areas of the Parkinson’s UK strategy.

Following the event, Mr Evennett commented: “my late father, Norman Evennett, suffered from Parkinson’s and I am a strong supporter of the Bexley and Dartford Parkinson’s branch. The charity do fantastic work to raise awareness of this disease and give support to those who suffer from this terrible disease”.