OS Guy Deacon fighting Parkinson’s stigma.

February 24th 2022

Just over two years ago, OS Guy Deacon (a 80) was waved off from the Courts at Sherborne School, destined for Sierra Leone. He was making the solo journey in a campervan to prove that Parkinson's Disease, with which he has been living for the last ten years, need not stop you from living a full life. In April 2022, Guy will be setting off again with more willpower than ever before.

Guy shares his experience of Parkinson's in this incredible documentary below Freetown to Cape Town with Parkinson’s Disease. Please read on to find out more and for ways to support Guy's efforts to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease and the need to find a cure.

Freetown to Capetown With Parkinsons from New Fruit Productions on Vimeo.

It had always been Guy's dream to cross the Sahara and Parkinson’s disease wasn’t going to stop him and this dream became a reality in October 2019. The idea first came to him when he received a Wexas travel book, during his time in upper sixth at Sherborne School. The front cover was a photograph of an iconic Saharan sunset, with land rovers in the foreground

The journey to Sierra Leone had gone largely to plan, and Guy began to consider pursuing the ultimate adventure of driving all the way to South Africa. However, just as he did so, COVID-19 reared its head and borders started to shut throughout the continent of Africa. Guy was evacuated by the British Embassy and forced to leave his vehicle in the care of somebody else in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. Now, as the world tries to return to ‘normal’, he resumes his expedition with more determination than ever.

There was one advantage of being repatriated because of COVID-19, Guy met a young film producer who will be helping him to make a documentary about his journey. Together they’ll highlight the realities of having Parkinson’s, as we see Guy enduring the day-to-day difficulties of travelling, much magnified by having the disease. We will also be introduced to people in Africa who have the Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s disease is not well understood and there is no particular cause or a cure. It also results in peculiar movements such as shaking and trembling which is often believed to be caused by witchcraft and sufferers are deemed to be cursed. As a result, in many African countries there is an associated stigma and some are ostracised. They certainly do not get the help they need. They do not have access to neurologists, of which there are not many, nor the necessary drugs which are very expensive. Life for them can be very difficult. Guy will be meeting some of these people as he travels through the continent, and the film provides a platform for them to speak directly about their experiences and problems they face, to help raise awareness and look for a solution.

The western African countries Guy will be travelling through are sometimes little known to people in the UK. He is particularly looking forward to going to Benin, Togo and Gabon and relishes the chance to drive through Angola. He will pass through some vast and chaotic cities, but most of the journey will be along the beautiful Atlantic coast.

Whilst on his journey he will be recording each day on Polar Steps and each week publishing a podcast summing up the week’s events. Because he is spending most of the time travelling alone, he is very keen to have as many supporters back in the UK as he can get, as they provide him with great encouragement and support when he needs it.

If you would like to support his efforts to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease and the need to find a cure, there are several ways in which you can help:

You can support the making of his documentary Freetown to Capetown with Parkinson’s by donating to his crowdfunding page. The documentary is supported by both Parkinson’s Africa and Cure Parkinson’s
You can donate to his JustGiving page
You can donate directly to Cure Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s disease has many secrets which need to be exposed and this film will go some way to doing that.

Guy sets off on his journey at the end of February, we all look forward following his journey and hearing from him when he returns.

We wish Guy the very best of luck!