Rachel Gibson

Hello, my name is Rachel Gibson and I have been supporting the charity, Cure Parkinson’s and The Cure Collective for many years. I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease 16 years ago when I was 38 and I was determined then to support a charity which was committed to finding a cure for the disease through scientific research. I had a nursing background and was a research nurse, managing drug trials for oncology patients. I knew therefore the pros and cons of the clinical trial process and wanted to raise awareness of the condition and fundraise for the charity.

My family and I were introduced to Tom Isaacs through a mutual friend soon after my diagnosis. He was a font of knowledge and an absolute pleasure to talk to. He was under no illusion that it was going to take time and much money to find a cure and was an inspiration to many. Sadly he passed away before he could see a cure but his mission still remains and Cure Parkinson’s is as dedicated to the challenge now as it was then.

With huge support of family and friends, I have raised over £40K for Parkinson’s over the years with a variety of activities and physical challenges. The toughest challenge was cycling with a friend, virtually unsupported for over 500 miles in 5 days from Edinburgh to Twickenham. I haven’t cycled much since!

I was humbled to be asked to co chair the Cure Collective. It is a very exciting time for Parkinson’s research and  we are getting closer to a cure. If you are interested in supporting the charity with regular donations and joining the Cure Collective,  please do contact Elizabeth at Cure Parkinson’s and I hope to meet some of you very soon.