Parkinson's trustee chairman completes two epic cycles to fund research

A HAMPSHIRE man living with Parkinson’s has continued his fundraising drive for research into the disease after two cycling expeditions in five days.

Tadley resident Gary Shaughnessy, who is chair of the board of trustees at Parkinson’s UK, first tackled 42 hills on September 7 in recognition of the 42 participants who volunteered for a ground-breaking trial in 2019 to find a cure for Parkinson’s.

He then joined trial participant Darren Calder in his charity cycle ride from Bristol Tower to London from September 10 to 12, all the while raising money for Parkinson’s UK.

Mr Shaughnessy, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2015, said it had been a “privilege” to ride with Mr Calder.

He said: “A few years ago he had very invasive brain surgery, which was an incredible thing he did to take part in a trial for a drug called GDNF, which ultimately was inconclusive.

“It was 150 miles from Bristol to London with him and it was a privilege to cycle with him.

“We got to London Bridge just as the bridge was going up and the boats were going underneath, so it was a really special finish as well.”

Three days prior to Mr Shaughnessy’s ride with Mr Calder, he had cycled across Berkshire and Hampshire with Cure Parkinson’s chief executive Will Cook in sweltering conditions, tackling 42 hills to honour the trial’s 42 “incredibly brave” participants.

The participants took part in a study investigation looking at neurotrophic factors – a series of proteins in the brain, one of which is called GDNF (glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor).

Although the trials were inconclusive, a number of participants saw major improvements in their symptoms, and GDNF is seen as potentially being the key to developing a life-changing treatment for people with Parkinson’s.

Mr Shaughnessy continued: “These people have just been incredibly brave.

“Imagine you have brain surgery, and then have a drug which in some people’s cases made a real difference – but as the trial is inconclusive, the drug has to be taken away.

“You’ve gone through being a volunteer, undertaken a very painful and difficult process, felt positive about the results, and the drug gets taken away from you – that’s a really difficult situation.

“I felt we should honour those people.”

The money Mr Shaughnessy raises will go towards Parkinson’s UK, and other participants are fundraising for the charities Cure Parkinson’s and Funding Neuro.

Together, the three charities co-funded the GDNF trial and continue to drive forward research into neurotrophic factors.

Next month, Mr Shaughnessy will run the London Marathon with his wife, Janet, and children, Michael, Daniel and Bethan.

To donate to Mr Shaughnessy’s fundraising, visit https://bit.ly/3Ewnt4i