A 60-year-old former army officer who has contended with Parkinson’s for over a decade will be at the Oxford Literary Festival to talk about his solo drive from the UK to South Africa.

Guy Deacon's one-year journey took him through 25 nations spanning 18,000 miles.

He has stage 3 Parkinson’s, which significantly affects his mobility and coordination skills.

Commencing his expedition in his VW Transporter, Mr Deacon had to navigate unfamiliar cities and towns, often having to rely on locals for directions.

He will be at the festival on March 22 ahead of the release of his new book Running on Empty, which is coming out on April 11 - World Parkinson's Day.

Mr Deacon's main aim was to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease, heavily stigmatised and misunderstood in Africa.

Within the African continent, the illness is often misattributed to witchcraft or black magic.

Consequently, people suffering from Parkinson’s frequently face ostracisation from their communities.

Mr Deacon used his venture to dispel these superstitions and educate people about the medical reality behind the disease.

Parkinson's has become the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disorder globally and has no known cure.

By 2040, an estimated 13 million individuals will be living with Parkinson’s - a quarter residing within Africa.

Throughout his journey, Mr Deacon met and interacted with Parkinson’s sufferers, understanding their day-to-day struggles and offering support.

The Covid-19 pandemic, however, put Mr Deacon's journey on a sudden halt in March 2020 when he could only advance as far as Sierra Leone.

A ban on international travel forced Mr Deacon's evacuation via an emergency relief flight facilitated by the government, leaving his vehicle behind.

His condition worsened during this hiatus.

When he resumed his journey in March 2022, his mobility had become significantly worse, and even day-to-day tasks became arduous challenges.

The expedition was physically and mentally gruelling for Mr Deacon.

Frequent technical troubles in the middle of nowhere and grave health scares tested his resolve.

His limited dexterity made it difficult for him to communicate with his friends and family, leaving him feeling isolated and weary.

Mr Deacon's expedition was supported by The Cure Parkinson’s Trust and Parkinson’s Africa.

They aim to find a cure and raise awareness for Parkinson’s, empowering patients to make informed health decisions.

His journey was captured in a video diary and by a documentary maker who joined him four times along the way.

The footage and photographs will be compiled into a one-hour documentary for Channel 4, set to be released in spring 2024.