Parkinsons

Rugby Branch

Our aim is to 'make a difference' to the quality of life for those with Parkinson's in Rugby and the surrounding area. We do this by informing those who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's, their family and carers about the support, information, news and events which are available in the locality.
We meet on the last Thursday of every month at Rugby United Reformed Church in Hillmorton Road from 2pm to 4pm.


History of the Rugby Branch
In 1986, Mary Cross, who had Parkinson's herself, started a support group to help people with Parkinson's in Rugby. The group gathered strength and in 1990 was inaugurated as a branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society (now Parkinson's UK). Pat and the late Alan Rose were involved in those early years and Alan became the first Chairman, a role he retained until 1996; Pat was the Treasurer. Alan and Pat were both later granted life membership for the work they carried out and the Branch owes them a debt of gratitude for their dedication.

Membership grew and in 1997 the Branch was active in creating the Warwickshire Consortium in conjunction with the Leamington and District and Nuneaton and Bedworth Branch. With the aid of a Lottery grant, the Consortium employed the Society's first full-time Welfare Visitor (later renamed Information and Support Worker) for the benefit of all people with Parkinson's in and around those branch areas. This valuable role has been maintained across the major part of Warwickshire to the present day and is still funded by the three branches.

We continue our fundraising activities and meetings and welcome new members but always maintains the criteria that we exist to help all people with Parkinson's.