Matt plays cards right to raise a laugh from ‘Parkylife’
AMAN who became one of the youngest people diagnosed with Parkinson’s when aged seven is now showing others with the condition its ‘brighter side’.
Matt Eagles, 51, who grew up on Larkhall Road, Macclesfield, was told he had the disease when still a pupil
School.
He has now set up website Parkylife, which tells of the positive side of Parkinson’s with life hacks, inspiring achievements, jokes and funny stories.
It has been supported by an array of organisations including Parkinson’s UK as well as celebrities such as Orlando Bloom.
Matt said: “I was travelling on the train one even
at Puss Bank ing and I saw a guy twitching and writhing about. The more he tried to hide it the worse it got.
“I said, ‘don’t worry, I know exactly how you feel. I do the same, I have Parkinson’s’. Strangely his shakes began to subside - it was almost as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“I smiled at him and said, ‘Parkinson’s isn’t the end of the world, you can turn potentially awkward situations to your advantage you know’.
”All the way back home I was thinking how terrible that moment of diagnosis must have been for him and how frightened he looked. I wondered if we could help him and others see Parkinson’s in a different light - and Parkylife was born.”
Among Parkylife’s projects has been the creation of ParkyCards, which have currently sold out.
They are small cards with hacks, inspirational quotes, quips and stories from the Parkinson’s community.
Each one has its own bespoke illustration from an artist on the other side.
Since childhood Matt, who lives in Cuddington with his wife but still has family in Macclesfield, has never let his diagnosis get in the way of a full life and this is the message he is aiming to pass on.
He said: “We are trying to change the perception of Parkinson’s.
”Parkinson’s doesn’t give you loads to smile about. So Parkylife is here for whenever you need a lift, or a laugh, or a great big hearty cuddle.”