Our history
We've come from a one-room office in Putney to a UK-wide network
of specialist nurses, staff and local groups aiming to reach
everyone affected by Parkinson's and find a cure.
Here's a bit about our history.
Mali Jenkins, our founder
4 July 1907 - 11 March 1989
In 1969 Mali
Jenkins founded the Parkinson's Disease Society - now Parkinson's UK.
Mali's sister, Sarah Jenkins, had been living with Parkinson’s for some years and was cared for at
the family home.
Mali looked for patient associations to help people affected by
Parkinson’s, but searches of local libraries showed that no such
thing existed.
Frustrated to find no literature in layman's terms about her
sister’s condition, Mali decided to find out what she could about
Parkinson's.
She placed adverts in the personal columns of a couple of
newspapers asking people to come forward who were interested in
forming an exploratory steering group. Mali chaired the Committee
and her sister Eryl was Secretary. Other friends and family were
asked to help. The first meeting took place at Westminster Hospital
and 16 people attended.
It was from this that the idea of starting a charity grew. And
on 26 February 1969 Mali Jenkins founded the Parkinson's Disease
Society - now Parkinson's UK.
Back in the beginning there were 3 simple aims:
- To help patients and their relatives with the problems arising
from Parkinson's
- To collect and disseminate information on Parkinson's
- To encourage and provide funds for research into
Parkinson's
Today we focus on research in
addition to support. We have also expanded to improve services
for people affected by Parkinson's through education and training for professionals and
campaigning.
Read more about our history
Mali Jenkins Help Fund
Our Mali Jenkins Help Fund, which
provides one-off grants to people with Parkinson's, is named after
our founder.
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