The club were pleased to donate £500 to the Worcestershire Branch of Parkinson’s UK and learned a little of what the branch does to help people with this illness. We learned that there is a “satellite” branches in Kidderminster which along with , other satellites, offer different kinds of support including therapy pools and “Conductive Education” . Mr Basil Sellwood, the branch’s treasurer in Malvern, told members that conductive education is “to train the brain to manage the movements which the body will permit”

He felt the easiest way to explain it was to imagine a lady asking her husband to let the cat out, for which he had to make his muscles push him out of the chair and then to steer his route without stumbling, tripping or falling over.

The Worcestershire Branch relies on local fund raising the money that is donated to head office concentrating on research, which these days is looking at stem cells. In thanking Basil, President Ray Mace said that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 14 years ago and has found the Worcestershire Branch extremely supportive. A quarter of sufferer’s do not suffer from “the Shakes” but like him most meet the diagnosis with disbelief.

Basil praised the work of Rotary International worldwide and also the support of his local Rotary Club, which are organising A Jazz concert in the Malvern Theatres on June 16 next, in aid of The Worcestershire Branch of Parkinson’s UK.

If you are fascinated by such speakers or interested in supporting the work of Rotary International, why not check out our website : www.kidderminsterrotary.

moonfruit.co.uk ; and approach the secretary to join us at our regular meetings on Tuesday lunchtimes at Wharton Park Golf & Country Club.