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You might expect that after twenty years of relentlessly following the fortunes of Cambridge United that I may have had my fill of sporting pain. However, I have agreed to plod for 26.2 miles around the streets of London on the 25th of April for the PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) Association in the fantastic sporting event that is the London Marathon.

The London Marathon has become the largest charitable event in the world, with more than forty million pounds being raised by each of the races in recent years. However, lesser known causes such as the PSP Association are largely overlooked in the distribution of this funding due to their smaller fund raising infrastructures and marketing budgets, so it is my pleasure to be able to assist with such a deserving cause.

PSP is a rare brain disorder that causes serious and permanent problems with control of gait and balance. The most obvious sign of the disease is an inability to aim the eyes properly, which occurs because of lesions in the area of the brain that coordinates eye movements. The most frequent first symptom of PSP is a loss of balance while walking. Patients may have unexplained falls or a stiffness and awkwardness in gait. PSP patients often show alterations of mood and behaviour, including depression and apathy as well as progressive mild dementia. Speech usually becomes slurred and swallowing solid foods or liquids can become difficult. In rare cases some patients will notice shaking of the hands.

The disorder’s name indicates that the disease begins slowly and continues to get worse (progressive), and causes weakness (palsy) by damaging certain parts of the brain called nuclei that control eye movements (supranuclear). PSP is often difficult to diagnose because its symptoms can be very similar to those of other, more common movement disorders.

The PSP Association fund research to better understand the causes of PSP, to achieve earlier and better diagnosis and to develop treatments that could potentially slow down, or even halt, the progression of the disease. They also support patients, their families and carers through UK-wide services such as a Nurse Specialist Helpline, local support groups, publications such as a comprehensive carer’s information pack and their Annual Symposium for carers and therapists.

For further information about the PSP Association, please visit their website at www.pspeur.org. If you wish to sponsor my marathon run, online donations would be most welcome via http://www.justgiving.com/Neal-Cannell . Many thanks for reading and for any support you are able to offer.

Neal Cannell

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