Annapurna’s very own Charlie Appleyard recently captained the Cure Parkinson’s Trust (CPT) UK football team, which is a team of men who have been diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s disease. They competed in the Ray Kennedy Cup in order to raise awareness and funds for CPT.
The Championship saw them travel to Copenhagen at the end of August, where they were unfortunately knocked out in the semi-finals, after winning the group without conceding a single goal.
Initially, Charlie and fellow team member, Sam Turner, connected on Twitter and within a few months had put together a team, dedicated to training and striving to compete in the renowned, international tournament for people with Parkinson’s.
The experience provided opportunity to raise funds and awareness for pioneering research into curing Parkinson’s. The team additionally aimed to raise awareness of the side effects and symptoms, and of the benefits that regular exercise can have on those with the condition. As Charlie states:
“We all had young onset Parkinson’s, but symptoms varied amongst us…By raising awareness we hope to make sure people get diagnosed quicker and get people active in fighting this disease together.”
Although the team didn’t come home with a win, their fundraising efforts and involvement is something to be truly proud of. If you’d like to read more about Charlie and the teams journey, please visit their fundraising page.
