North Canterbury News: April 08, 2021

Marilyn steps up to challenge
By SHELLEY TOPP
Soon after Marilyn Pond was
diagnosed with Parkinson’s
disease, she dreamt her
illness was cured.
It was heartbreaking for
her to realise when she
awoke that she still had the
incurable neurological
disorder that affects
movement, balance and coordination.
The loss of spontaneity is
particularity hard to accept.
‘‘You can’t just jump in
the car without thinking
twice. We have to make sure
we have got medication, and
snacks to help if there are
problems with the
medication working.’’
Despite this, she
maintains apositive outlook
on life.
Since her diagnosis 11
years ago, Marilyn, who lives
in Ohoka with her partner
Neville Major­Johnston, has
been taking part in aNew
Zealand Brain Research
Institute study to find acure.
‘‘I want to know what
causes Parkinson’s, because
until we know that we are
not going to change alot,’’
she says.
‘‘If you are going to have
Parkinson’s you may as well
use it for something good. It
brings apositive to it,
instead of anegative.’’
Marilyn separated from her
partner of 20 years soon
after she was diagnosed and
started anew relationship
with Neville four years ago.
‘‘It is the best decision I
have ever made.
‘‘He takes me as Iamand
we laugh alot about some of
the Parkinson’s stuff, and
his family is extremely
accepting of the
Parkinson’s,’’ she says.
However, she misses the
energy she used to have.
‘‘I used to move mountains
in aday, and now Istruggle
with some of the simpler
things like baking –itwill
take most of the day.’’
It has also been hard
learning to accept help from
others.
‘‘Helping people was
always my role and it is hard
to change places. Idon’t
hide the fact that Ihave
Parkinson’s, but some
people then turn you into an
invalid.’’
She prefers Neville’s
approach of allowing her to
do as much as possible
without help on the
understanding that she will
ask for help if she needs it.
The Brain Research
Institute’s clinical director,
Professor Tim Anderson,
says 12,000 people in New
Zealand have Parkinson’s
disease. This number is
expected to double in the
next 20 years.
There is no single cause
and there are many
Life with Parkinson’s ... Marilyn Pond maintains apositive
outlook on life.
different symptoms, so each
person requires
individualised diagnosis
and treatment.
Parkinson’s Awareness
Month is being held this
month, with Parkinson’s
Awareness Day this Sunday.
NEWS
North Canterbury News, April 8, 2021
Service
recognised
5
MikeDormer’s service to The Willows
Cricket Club and the community has
beenrecognised.
Waimakariri MayorDan Gordon
visited the hallowed turf at Loburn last
weektopresent the ground’sfounder
withaWaimakaririDistrictCouncil
community serviceaward.
Mr Dormer,his wife Winsome and sons
Ben and Pete have
beenhosting
matchesatLoburn
since the 1990s.
The ground was
established when
Ben persuaded
him to convert a
paddockonthe
family’s property
intoapitch.
Mike Dormer
Mr Dormer has
never been known for doing thingsby
halves and decided to form both afield
and acricketclub.
The field, in an idyllic countrysetting,
is larger than many overseas test venues.
The Willows CricketClub was
established in 1994 to foster youth
involvement in cricket.
It aims to encourage top secondary
school cricketers to playwith and against
experienced players, as well as offering
qualitycricket to lovers of the game.
Overthe years,many organisations,
including the Salvation Army, have
benefited from the annual Christmas
Party for children and families at The
Willows.
Mr Dormer has also served as
Honorary Consulfor Chile for several
years, supported the Champion Centre in
Christchurch and was adirector of
Independent Fisheries for manyyears.
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