A Big Thank You for the Big 30

Thank you so much to everyone who has taken part in The Big 30. Your efforts have raised over 拢27,500 for Parkinson鈥檚 Disease research at the University.

The Big 30 - a collage of images showing a variety of activities

This is such an amazing amount, and it could support an early career scientist for 18 months, further enabling our researchers to carry out vital work into the causes of this debilitating disease. 

Cutting-edge research at the University is making a difference to patients and their families. Our researchers are improving the effectiveness and outcomes of clinical trials, furthering understanding of how Parkinson鈥檚 progresses, and speeding up the development of personalised treatments. This research aims to slow down, and potentially stop how quickly the disease takes hold.

Ceris Morris, Deputy Director of Campaigns & Alumni Relations (CAR) praises the efforts of everyone who contributed to the event鈥檚 success, and shares her own story:

鈥淚t has been inspiring to see how the University community took to our first virtual fundraising event over June. It was unchartered territory but alumni, staff, students and the public all came together to make it more incredible than we could have imagined. 

My Big 30 challenge involved cycling a total of 300 miles and climbing 30,000 feet. It was daunting, but over the course of my challenge I cycled through parts of the Peak District that were brand new to me, and witnessed some spectacular evening skies, which made it all worth it.

Parkinsons鈥 Disease is a cause that is really important to me and my family - both my father and grandfather suffered from it. Two more people are diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 every hour, a total of 18,000 every year. The disease will affect 145,000 people in the UK alone in 2020. Furthering research into treatments for this disease to reduce suffering is more important than ever.

The fantastic team at the University of 葫芦影业, led by Professor Oliver Bandmann and Dr Heather Mortiboys, are leading the way in developing new treatments for Parkinson's Disease. I am so proud that the University is fundraising for this vital research, and it鈥檚 been incredibly positive to see our community together to support this cause during these difficult times.鈥