PARKINSON’S Awareness Week kicked off when the Swindon roadshow visited British Home Stores yesterday.

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition which affects the nerve cells of the brain and it is estimated 127,000 people suffer from it.

The week of action aims to highlight the support available in the town with Swindon’s branch of charity Parkinson’s UK organising the programme.

Today, the group will be at the B&Q branch, in Great Western Way, providing information to the public. There has also be a collection taking place in support of the charity.

“So far, things have been going really well and visitors have been really interested in the group,” said chairman Dave Logan, 67, of Liden, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s more than 10 years ago.

“I think it is vitally important for the public to find out about the challenges facing those with the condition.”

During the roadshow, which will be returning to British Home Stores tomorrow, and based at Tesco Extra on Friday, organisers have been asking the public to make pledges to support those with Parkinson’s.

Examples of these pledges include vowing to help a neighbour, hold open doors and spend time to talk to those with the condition.

The week’s festivities will conclude when the tour visits The Brunel Centre on Saturday.

Mayor Teresa Page will be attending to show her support with a highlight of the event likely to be a musical performance by Swindon branch members Jeff Culling and Dave Woodford with the performances scheduled to take place at 10.20am and 11am.

He said: “One has put the verses together and his friend put it to music. It is really emotive and deals with the discomfort and pain of someone having Parkinson’s with one of the lines being ‘you always give me pain, all of the time’.

“This deals with the fact that people can’t see what those with Parkinson’s are feeling.”

Dave thanked the Adver and Swindon 105.5 for the support they’ve given to Parkinson’s Awareness Week.

The Swindon Scratch Choir will perform at 1.15pm with the Swindon Male Voice Choir headlining a benefit concert taking place at Bath Road Methodist Church.

Last year, to mark Parkinson’s Awareness Week, Dave swam nearly the length of the English Channel raising money for the charity.

To find out more about events in Swindon, visit parkinsons.org.uk