A MAN who suffers from a debilitating disease is encouraging people to take part in a fundraising run today.

Jeremy Appleton, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease after developing a tremor in his left arm, said about 100 people were expected to hot foot it around Oxford’s Cutteslowe Park today.

The Cutteslowe Canter, which includes three and five-mile routes, has been organised by the Oxford branch of the Parkinson’s Disease Society, as part of the charity’s national awareness week, which ends tomorrow.

Mr Appleton, from Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, said: “We’re really pleased with how many have entered so far and would ask that more people come down and join in on the day.

“I will be there in all my glory. We hope to raise a few thousand pounds.”

The 69-year-old, of Church Lane, was diagnosed at the John Radcliffe Hospital in February 2006.

He described his disease as mild and said he felt sorry for people like actor Michael J Fox, who was told of his diagnosis aged 30, in 1991.

Mr Appleton said: “I knew there was something wrong as my arm began to shake.

“My friends think I had probably had Parkinson’s Disease a year before I was given the news.

“It’s a disease that is fairly unpleasant in its eventual outcome.

“I’m not as bad as some people. I’m still walking 10 miles once or twice a month and playing golf twice a week.”

The retired managing director of a Reading packaging firm said his disease did not prevent him from driving but had left him with a constant shaky arm during the day and a husky and faint tone in his voice.

Mr Appleton said: “I have to be careful when holding a fork in my left hand. The tremor is constant while I’m awake and stops when I’m asleep.

“I also feel like my face isn’t operating properly.”

He said the progressive neurological disease has three main symptoms: tremors, muscular rigidity or stiffness and slowness of movement.

The father-of-three and grandfather-of-five said his wife Maisie had been fantastic.

He said: “The support I have received from my wife, family, friends and the Parkinson’s Disease Society, has been wonderful.”

As part of the awareness week, the society has launched an appeal for people to pledge to donate their brains for research.

Researchers investigating the disease face a shortage of donated brains that are vital for their work.

By the end of this year, the society wants to double the 1,000 people on the Parkinson’s brain donor register.

For more details of the society and how to sign up to the donor register, see the website parkinsons.org.uk l The Cutteslowe Canter starts at 1pm, with Inspector Morse author Colin Dexter starting the race.

Entry costs £5 per person. For more details, call Steve Caswell on 01865 424703.

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