Charlie Appleyard, Director
Charlie is the cofounder of Sports Parkinson CIC. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in June 2016, since then he has become an ambassador of Cure Parkinson’s and has campaigned to try to encourage people with Parkinson’s to exercise regularly under the guise of “keep healthy and strong till a cure comes along”.
He lives in Southwest London with his family. His wife Claire and sons Arnie and Ted
Outside the Parkinson’s world, he is the managing director of Annapurna Recruitment in London as well as being a proud board director of Morecambe Football Club
Sporting-wise, Charlie is a golf addict who is intent on continuously improving despite PD. He plays 5 aside football weekly, cycles on static bike and does boxing sessions twice a week. Keep on moving!
Garen Williams, Director
Garen Williams was diagnosed with YOPD at the age of 45, 4 years ago.
He has 2 children, a daughter 20 and a son 16 years old.
Garen is a qualified Building Surveyor and works full time in an Architectural Office for a Local Authority.
Since being diagnosed with PD, exercise has been more important than ever as I have realised how much it can help and slow down the progression of PD. Exercise has improved my strength, balance, co-ordination, and mental wellbeing.
Garen is a Director of Sport Parkinsons CIC, the organisation aims to promote exercise and participation in sporting activities for people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Its aim is to encourage its members and the wider Parkinson’s community to get active and take regular exercise to benefit their mental and physical health to improve their PD symptoms.
Garen represented the UK in an International European Championships 7 a-side Football Tournament in Copenhagen 2019 (also known as the Ray Kennedy Cup) where they topped the group stage and lost narrowly in the semi-final. The team is called UKYOPD FC (UK Young Onset Parkinsons Football Club)
Garen is involved with the set-up of the “Wales Parkinsons Football Team” helping others with PD play football in a friendly and safe environment.
He is committed to help others, who struggle to live with Parkinson’s disease, through sport and exercise across the UK with a Welsh community spirit.
Hamish Turnbull, Director
Hamish was born in Hawick, in the Scottish Borders. However, his lifetime career with the Scottish Textiles Industry, led him to swap his native Cheviot Hills for Surrey ones where he has lived since 1987. He is married to Jayne, with two daughters Amie and Chloe and a black Labrador dog called ‘Caledonia’, Cale for short. He now works full time as an independent sales agent promoting Scottish Knitwear Products to the UK Fashion and Golf Markets.
Hamish was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, aged 55. The first place he looked to make change was with his health and “The only way forward that I could see was through daily activity and physical exercise supported by a healthy diet. Armed With a bucket load of “positivity” acquired from being a lifelong Scottish Rugby International supporter and that other virtue that is also needed, patience!”
His sporting loves are golf and rugby union but since he was diagnosed he finds walking long distances troublesome, so has introduced cycling, a third love. He now cycles everywhere and in May 2022 completed a charity cycle ride from London to Bruges.
He has a lifetime membership at both his favourite sport clubs : Old Reigatian RFC, where he is an ambassador for Parkinson’s charity events and Reigate Heath GC.
“I totally get the importance of Sport Parkinson’s and the world of difference it is making to PD sufferers, to understand exercise is key and communicates to the public that PD is not just a disease for the aged.”
Martin Turner, Director
