SHAKE It Up Australia Foundation invites Australians to Pause 4 Parkinson’s in April, by hosting a fundraising event with family, friends or colleagues, or by simply donating to mark World Parkinson’s Day on 11 April 2021.
Clyde Campbell founded Shake It Up Australia Foundation in 2011 after being diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s at the age of 44.
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease affecting movement and balance. As the disease progresses, the individual increasingly loses the ability to move freely, inhibiting the ability to perform everyday tasks.
In the 10 years since its inception, Shake It Up Australia Foundation has partnered with The Michael J. Fox Foundation co-funding 50 research projects across 13 Australian research institutes to the value of $15 million.
Evidence now shows that changes in gut function often come years before the onset of symptoms such as tremors.
A significant issue for those with the disease is a slow-down in digestive tract movement, leading to constipation.
Queensland researchers, backed by Advance Queensland, have begun a human trial in South East Queensland to treat constipation and gut dysfunction.
The research team, led by Dr Richard Gordon and A/Professor John O’Sullivan from the University of Queensland, and also funded by Shake It Up Australia and The Michael J. Fox Foundation, have screened more than 20 people with Parkinson’s who have expressed interest in the trial.
It will determine if a new treatment can restore beneficial gut microbiome species and improve symptoms such as constipation in Parkinson’s disease patients.
Australians can aid the latest ground breaking research to help the 100,000 Australian’s living with the disease, and to ultimately find a cure.
Mr Campbell was awarded a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (General Division) in the 2021 Australia Day Honours List in recognition of his significant service to community health, particularly to people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Story Source: Shake it up Australian Foundation
Ryan Fritz
Ryan Fritz started The Advocate in 2014 to provide not-for-profits and charities another media platform to tell their worthwhile hard news stories and opinion pieces effortlessly. In 2020, Ryan formed a team of volunteer journalists to help spread even more high-quality stories from the third sector. He also has over 10 years experience as a media and communications professional for not-for-profits and charities and currently works at Redkite, a childhood cancer charity.
