‘Walking football tournament to highlight challenges of Parkinson’s disease’

Parkinson’s disease

Organisers of the just-concluded five-a-side walking football tournament held at Eagle Club, Surulere, Lagos, have explained that the competition was aimed at creating awareness for Parkinson’s disease, highlight the challenges of living with the disease and display medication, exercise and nutrition as effective tools for pushing back its symptoms.

At the end of the competition organised by Parkinson’s Africa and Adewunmi Desalu Parkinson’s Foundation (ADPF) with 12 teams in attendance, Dream Boys defeated Hope Boys to win the maiden title.

Other teams at the competition were Vitol/NavGas, Sahara (Asharami Synergy Plc), Les Energy Services, Mocoh Oil and Gas, AIICO Multishield, StreSERT, Bring Back Our Language Foundation, Panda Boys, Physio Boys and Parky Wanderers.

The tournament was sponsored by Vitol Foundation and supported by Waka Football Nigeria. Speaking on the competition, Parkinson’s Africa’s Board of Trustees Chairperson, Mrs. Omotola Thomas, said the event is primarily to make people know, see and understand better what Parkinson’s disease looks like.

She added that the organisation chose a football tournament to assure people living with Parkinson’s disease that they are not alone in the struggle for better living, as well as show corporate organisations how to support the efforts to empower Nigerians and Africans affected by the disease.

Also speaking on the competition, Executive Director, Parkinson’s Africa, Ms.Tania Park, said the tournament is used as a tool to find a safe exercise for people with Parkinson’s disease to live healthy lives in the simplest possible way.

She noted that the firms chose walking football because it is an enjoyable activity for people living with Parkinson