I don't know about you but when I hear the word 'Knebworth' I immediately conjure up a picture of thousands of people crammed together in a field, waving their arms in the air in homage to someone like Robbie Williams who is prancing about on a stage the size of a small village, flanked by two skyscrapers of PA speakers, I suppose it's the musician in me.  So you can imagine my delight when I received an invite through the post from the PDS to attend an event at Knebworth, aimed towards the younger PD sufferers.  This really appealed to me as I had been down the local support group route and soon discovered that it wasn't for me.  It was a long way to go but maybe I could make contact with someone on the same wavelength.  The letter contained a telephone number which I called and was told I would be very welcome and that there would be a parking ticket arriving in the post along with an official pass for two persons.  There would be a barbecue available, the lady said and live music!  That sealed it!

So, as the day got closer, I had got firmly in my mind the idea that this was going to be quite a gathering!  How am I going to meet anybody similar to myself?  I made a mental note to try and get close to the musicians that were performing.  You know.... hand around the stage area!  Maybe I should get a T-shirt with 'GARY FROM LOWESTOFT' printed boldly across my chest!  I almost did.

I guess there were 60 - 70 people there, sipping complimentary Bucks Fizz on the patio outside the conference room.  No soggy fields, no ear splitting sounds blasting out from speakers pushed to the point of distortion, no empty beer cans and not a portaloo in sight!  I must admit that at first I thought is was going to be a waste of time, especially when I was informed there was no music at all!  But as it turned out, it was to be an important day for me.

There as an elderly lady by the name of Judy Archer who had been asked to speak to us.  She stood up and announced that the theme of her short talk was 'How lucky I am to have Parkinson's'.  Stories and anecdotes followed, explaining how her life had been enriched by people she'd met, places she'd visited and things she had done since the onset of the disease.  In other words, experiences she would otherwise never have had.  Her attitude really impressed me a lot.  I decided there and then that I would do something useful while I was still able.  If this dear little old little woman could jump out of a dolphin or swim with parachutes, then surely there was something I could do.  After all, I've had my share of good luck as well.  Things could be a hell of a lot worse.  For example, I don't wake up everyday desperate for my medication, I can hold it back for quite a while if I take things nice and easy.  There are things that take more time now but I'm able to play my drums at the moment and I walk everywhere.  I don't need a wheelchair or even a stick.  As yet my speech hasn't been affected and apart from the occasional cramp, I am not in any serious pain.  That's a lot to be thankful for.  I am thankful also to those concerned who invited me to Knebworth.  I didn't get to see Robbie Williams bit I did get to see Judy Archer!

Gary Woods