Rasheda Ali recently wrote the book I'll Hold Your Hand So You Won't Fall – A Child's Guide to Parkinson's Disease. The book was inspired by the interaction between her children and her father, the former three-times World Heavyweight Champion, who suffers from Parkinson's disease.

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Rasheda saw a need to help her and other children understand why their loved ones behave a certain way because of the debilitating disease. With the book, she wanted to encourage dialogue and set an example of how communication within the family can overcome barriers.

Other speakers at the event, which will take place at the Cape Sun Hotel on Monday, the 3rd of April, will include: James Maphiri, former South African Racing Commentator who is also living with Parkinson's disease, Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus, and Mary Baker, Chair of the Working Group on Parkinson's disease.

Aids and Parkinson's
Holding World Parkinson's Disease Day in Africa this year is particularly poignant because of the Aids crisis.

While Aids is the epidemic that is wiping out the middle-stream "parent" population, Parkinson's disease is the forgotten disease that will creep up and eliminate the "grandparent" population. Grandparents are increasingly carrying the responsibility of parenting.

"Better recognition and management of Parkinson's disease now may be the answer to averting a greater problem later," reads an official statement by the organisers. – (Health24)

Read more:
A-Z of Parkinson's disease
 

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