Julie’s Route 66 dream defies Parkinson’s disease diagnosis

7:50am Saturday 8th January 2011

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as she celebrated her 50th birthday, Julie Wilks was living life to the full.

just months earlier she succeeded in her aim of owning and riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle, after taking up the hobby at the age of 48.

But she was forced to abandon her dream, along with her job as a a lab technician at Benton Park School in Rawdon, and her hobbies of belly dancing and African and Egyptian drumming when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Julie, now 54, received the diagnosis in 2009, but she is determined not to be beaten by it and she has also set up a website to help others who are faced with the devastating diagnosis.

In Julie’s case it was a Wii computer game that gave her the first clue there was something wrong.

a balance game showed that she was leaning more heavily on one foot than the other.

Soon, other symptoms followed, and within months she was given the diagnosis. But despite having to give up so much in her life Julie, of Guiseley, has pursued other dreams instead. She is a keen artist and photographer and, inspired by a photograph taken at sunset, she has set up the website Give a little Sunshine, offering help and advice to other sufferers.

She said: “When I was diagnosed I didn’t know anyone with the disease and neither did my friends and because of that I set up my Give a little Sunshine website. I aim to raise awareness so that people can recognise the condition and not judge someone that may stumble or look disorientated. Even I would perhaps have thought that such a person was drunk or maybe just a little odd.”

She aims to answer questions on her site, which includes a blog, as well as comparing notes with other sufferers and to let then know that Parkinson’s is not the end of the world. She is also aiming to raise at least £1,000 for Parkinson’s UK and is hoping to join the Leeds and District Branch of the charity. Julie who suffers from bradykinesia (slowness of movement) and rigidity (stiffness of muscles) said it took some time before she sought medical help.

“In the beginning the symptoms that I had were so subtle that I adapted myself without realising,” she said.

“I am left-handed but started texting on my phone and using the computer mouse with my right.”

“I started buying more sensible shoes with velcro and flat heels but never questioned why I felt odd in my stilletos and couldn’t walk safely in them any more.”

“When I knew something was definitely wrong I still didn’t get help because I thought I had sleep problems because of stress or vice versa. I live alone so had no one to notice I had a problem. At work I managed to muddle through but no one was sure either what was wrong with me apart from that I was always tired.”

her illness means she has problems with walking and balance as well as impaired memory – but she is determined to continue to live her life to the full.

“I am optimistic but the outlook for me is uncertain as it all depends on how fast the disease progress,” she said.

But as well as being very involved in making decisions about her medication she is also keeping as fit as possible and stresses that she is “taking a positive attitude to Parkinson’s to take back control of my life for as long as I possibly can”.

She aims to continue with her quest of raising awareness of Parkinson’s and to raise money for Parkinson’s UK.

“Inbetween times I also want to enjoy my life and pursue my hobbies of painting and photography and maybe try something new. I also hope to travel a little. I always wanted to do Route 66 on a motorbike but because I can no longer ride safely and had to sell my motorbike, I might look at other ways to do it – either as pillion rider or by car or coach. it won’t be quite the same on four wheels but I will look at getting there any way I can.”

She is also hoping to visit cousins in Australia and travel to Mexico Julie, who has a son and a daughter, is now supporting the Leeds branch of Parkinson’s UK. She has also sold some of her paintings and is giving a proportion of proceeds to the charity.

She is hoping to create a calendar of her local photograph’s. Julie’s website is givealittlesunshine.co.uk. She is looking for help with the cost of printing calendars and artwork for her fundraising.

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