An interview with Andy Butler on Awareness on 8/3/2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
I am 58 years old, and I live in the UK. I have siblings and was born in Richmond, London where I live now. I am a Gay Single man and live alone with no pets.
My working life was spent in Bingo Halls and Casinos as an assistant manager here in the UK and Abroad.
Please tell me a little about your background.
I took early retirement in 2010 to look after my father who had been diagnosed with PD in 2000.
I cared for him in the last two years of his life before his passing.
During those two years I connected with people living with pd every evening via the internet. Read lots of websites/ books related to PD.
After my father’s death I reconnected with these people to ask if I could travel to meet them and see their projects/groups/centers. All of them to date have said yes and the rest so to speak is History.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
I have visited many centers around the world where people living with Parkinson’s have got together with local charities/ health care providers/ institutions to create them.
One example being the Icelandic center based in the capital Reykjavik which provides Physiotherapy/ social interaction/ a pd nurse/ facilities to shower/ counselling/ the PD Association is also located their/ dietician etc. It opens in the evening and is accessible for those who are younger who work during the day.
I have just been elected to Parkinson’s Europe Board and will be concentrating my time in Europe for the next 3 years.
What events do you participate in?
Many people living with Parkinson’s have put on events which I have participated in. Driving around Malaysia with the Malaysian PD association.
Doing a walk in the park with South Australia in Melbourne/ A walk in Alberta Canada both fundraisers.
A visit to Brisbane to meet Boxers United Australia.
To give a talk to the Nepalese PD Association in Kathmandu.
I have attended many conferences put on by people living with PD in many countries/ the one that always comes to mind was in Germany because it was interpreted by Team Dopamine into German for me.
I have visited a Gym in Denmark created by someone living with PD for People living with PD.
I also visit a lot of PD associations Offices/HQ and the smallest one I have ever seen was Parkinson’s New Zealand.
I belonged to the Parkinson Action Network before it was dissolved and belong to many pd associations around the world.
I also attended the Parkinson’s World Congress in Barcelona, Spain 2023.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
A Facebook page called Parkinson’s People (we use a blue Tulip as It’s Logo)
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
Many people living with PD lives from day to day or week by week, they do not seem to plan too far ahead.
Advocacy has a very positive effect on people living with PD as they see it “taking control of their lives” Their mood and well-being appear better.