Emma Liston
Emma said: “I watched two friends run the full marathon for the first time last year, Alistair and Ryan Turner, and I signed up when I got home.
“Hearing the stories and achievements of all the runners as they reached the finish line really tugged a string in my heart and I knew straight away I wanted to run for Parkinson’s UK as it meant so much to me already.
“The choir have insisted on sponsoring me and can’t wait to hear me sing all about it when I return the following day.
“The members have shown such amazing commitment every week and the bravery to try a new hobby. I’ll be thinking of that when my legs get weak, and I imagine it’ll keep me going with a smile on my face.”
“The training is going well. I’m getting a little help from someone I went to college with, Fabian Walker, who is an aspiring personal trainer and online coach so he is definitely putting me through my paces to get ready for this.”
The Alva choir currently has 15 to 20 dedicated Parkinson’s sufferers as members and meets in the school every Monday at the school between 4.30pm and 6pm.
Emma said: “The most obvious benefit is watching their confidence grow as well as the social aspect of being with friends who understand how it feels to live with Parkinson’s.
“We also deliver specific physical and vocal warm-ups to lessen some of the symptoms, such as mumbled speech and ‘constant frown syndrome’.
“Singing in the choir also keeps the brain active which is great for everyone as they have to remember lyrics, cues, and read music.
“As someone who was training as a classical vocalist in college and university, to becoming a secondary school music teacher, I have had endless experience with singing and choirs, but this one is definitely special and the members never fail to make me smile at the end of a working Monday.”
For more information or to enter visit greatrun.org/stirling.