During one of her daily walks with a friend, Sheenagh began to worry about her limited movement.

After many months, she was ultimately diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease. She was just 47. It took a couple of years and three types of medication before doctors found the right treatment for her.

“No one really understood what Parkinson’s disease was or the impact it would have on my life, but everyone was very sad I had it. I am a nurse by training, and I didn’t know much about this dreadful disease either. This was one of the reasons why I decided to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease.”

Sheenagh decided to advocate and raise awareness of early-onset Parkinson’s disease, by becoming part of WEHI’s Consumer Program.

“I want to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease. Sadly, most people think it’s only an old person’s disease and I want to shift the paradigm about how anyone can develop this debilitating disease, even you or someone you love.”

Professor Grant Dewson, head of WEHI’s Parkinson’s Disease Research Centre and a lab head at WEHI, works closely with consumers like Sheenagh to understand the unique experience of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

“Sheenagh’s story really hits home the need for new therapies for Parkinson’s that can stop or slow its progression. Her passion and drive to help others by sharing her powerful story, leading support groups, and becoming chair of the consumer reference group for the Parkinson’s Disease Research Centre, is inspiring.”

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Header image: Sheenagh Bottrell with her husband Andrew.