An interview with Paul Dennison: Humour, Heart and Hope Life in Rhyme
Biography
Hi, I’m Paul 60-year-old male, from Torquay UK, recently retired through ill health although remain active, married to Sharon 25 years this month. I have two daughters, Hannah 37, currently 8 months pregnant with 2nd grand child, along with Harper 5. Hollie is 32 and is getting married this October. Both have great partners. We also have a dog called Tango.
I love sports, I used to play football, crick, and squash. I know how to play golf, with buggy, swim and play pickleball, when my body allows. I use and exercise bike every morning and have recorded my distances and recently passed 10, 000 miles which has taken 3 years 3 months. I was diagnosed in 2018 and am currently on the waiting list or DBS.
Can you tell me more about your Advocacy?
This would be writing rhyming poetry about Parkinson’s and my stoma through my journey it seems to resonate with fellow suffers and their carers, its wonderful i get so much out of it
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
My poetry, I have one book out and one on the way, 50% of proceeds go to Parkinson’s UK
What type of goals does individuals with Parkinson’s have when seeing your Advocacy?
I’m new to Parkinson’s advocacy, my book just kind of happened, I just started writing poems about what was happening to me as a way of explaining things, made it easier for me to explain to my family and friends. He turned into a book, I started posting some of the poems, and the response I got back was awesome, people were saying ‘that’s me’ or thanks for explaining that my dad or mum,
What effect can your Advocacy have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
My journey seems to bring out huge emotions to the reader it’s seems to resonate, I’m astounded at the feedback and is really pushing me to do more
What would you like to see as a future goal for your Advocacy?
To continue this process and highlight one very big issue, the disease is so confusing to people, too many avenues, too many big words, newly diagnosed are confused
What events do you participate in?
Parkinson’s meetings and forums
How does this also assist the caregivers?
It helps them understand what their partners are going through, their emotions and support are equally as important
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
pauldennison.co uk
https://tinyurl.com/Humour-Heart-and-Hope
How can others also become advocates for awareness?
To encourage all Parkinson’s peeps to write poems, get their feelings out
In your opinion, what is the key to effective advocacy?
Messaging, declutter and confusion with this horrible disease there’s strength in unity.
“Humour, Heart and Hope Life in Rhyme ” – the title of my book of rhyming poems on amazon released back in
March this year https://tinyurl.com/Humour-Heart-and-Hope
How can we better fundraise to support a cure for Parkinson’s?
Via poetry
What other activities do you undertake to help improve and support your daily living Eg exercise and alternative remedies?
I get involved in my local groups and post poems via forums
Why should people who don’t have Parkinson’s care about this?
My poems also cover anxiety, grief and dementia
Have you had any family members or relatives affected by Parkinson’s disease?
Nan had Lewy Bodies
If you had one song that would tell us more about you or represent your life, which song would it be?
I have so many, probably children Robert miles – love writing when listening to dance tracks
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
Discuss, be open, do hide it, there’s strength in numbers