TWO artists suffering from Parkinson’s have had their paintings published in a national calendar.
Ella Davis, of Curzon Park, and Derek Healiss, of Queens Park, will see their artwork displayed in the two Parkinson’s calendars for 2011.
The pair’s work claimed pages in the calendars after they both entered the Mervyn Peake Awards, which celebrate the creative achievements of people living with Parkinson’s.
Ella Davies has had her painting reproduced in the main calendar, while Derek’s work is displayed in a calendar campaigning for more special nurses to care for people with the disease.
Derek said: “I am delighted that my painting is being used to support the case for more specialist nurses.
“I use the nurse service myself, so I know how important it is that everyone with Parkinson’s should be able to do the same.”
Colin Cheesman, a trustee of Parkinson’s UK, said: “These awards demonstrate the tremendous skill and imagination of people with Parkinson’s. We want the public to understand that just because someone has a neurological condition, it does not mean their brain is not as alert and creative as ever.”
About 10,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s every year, and 1 in 20 of these cases will be under the age of 40.
