PEOPLE are being urged to get to know more about Parkinson's when the Skipton branch holds a "road show" at Craven Court in Skipton, on Thursday, April 13.

It will be part of national Parkinson's Awareness Week and will also coincide with World Parkinson's Day on Tuesday, April 11 - exactly 200 years since it was recognised as a medical condition.

Helping spearhead the event in Skipton is 73-year-old David Riley, of Boundary Avenue, Sutton-in-Craven, who has had the disease for ten years.

"My intention over that week is to increase the profile of Parkinson's. It's a problem that a lot of people don't know about-we don't get enough publicity," said David, who works part-time as a health and safety officer, and is chairman of Skipton Parkinson's.

"I want people to come in and see us in Craven Court and talk to use about what it's like to suffer from it. We have leaflets to give out and we'll be there to explain things."

Recently, David completed a sponsored walk raising £1,400 for research funding and the Skipton branch of the charity gives £7,000 a year towards a Parkinson's UK fund to support people who care for loved-ones.

Physiotherapy sessions take place at Airedale Hospital, Steeton, and a new, evening group has recently started at Herriot's Hotel in Skipton.

Parkinson's is a progressive, neurological condition suffered by one in every 500 in the country - about 127,000 people.

Symptoms and how quickly they progress are different for everyone.There's currently no cure, but drugs and treatments are available to manage many of the symptoms.