THE Chester and District branch of Parkinson’s UK celebrated their name change and their new arrangements with the MS support centre during Parkinson’s Awareness Week.

During the week information and advice days on the disease were held at the Countess of Chester Hospital, and at the Boots store in Foregate Street, Chester.

In addition to launching the name ‘Parkinson’s UK’, which replaces ‘Parkinson’s Disease Society’, the branch was able to reveal that new co-operative arrangements with the Multiple Sclerosis Support Centre at River Lane, Saltney, were proving to be increasingly popular.

John Knight, local Parkinson’s UK chairman, said:“People with Parkinson’s are now able to use these superb facilities on the same basis as people with MS.”

He added: “This opens up a whole new range of therapies for us, which until now have not been readily available”

Branch secretary Colin Cheesman added: “Parkinson’s Awareness Week [April 19-25] has been one of the best yet, culminating in a turnout of over 200 runners for Parkinson’s UK in last Sunday’s London Marathon.”