A GRANT from one of the West's most prominent health-related charities to a Cornish centre will help improve the lives of people with Parkinson's Disease.

The James Parkinson Centre Cornwall organises hub meetings for those who have been diagnosed with the progressive neurological condition, and their carers.

These are social meetings where people can meet a Parkinson's nurse specialist and obtain health and welfare advice.

They are held in Threemilestone, Camborne, St Austell and Pensilva and are so popular that a co-ordinator needs to be employed.

The Duchy Health Charity has given £15,000 to JPC to enable a hub co-ordinator for meetings around Cornwall. Chairman of the trustees of the James Parkinson Centre Sue Thomas said: "This is a fantastic boost.

"There are about 1,500 people in Cornwall with Parkinson's who need support.

"So far we have relied on volunteers from Rotary Club and Inner Wheel members, but to expand we needed paid support."

Trailblazing

Sally Jane Coode, the DHC's chairman of grants, said the charity was delighted to help.

"We hope it will mean many more people in the county with Parkinson's will benefit from this trailblazing initiative."

The Duchy Health Charity was formed back in 1990 to use proceeds of £3.5 million from the sale of the private Duchy Hospital to benefit the health, care and wellbeing of the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Since then it has granted more than £6 million to charities and organisations involved.

From substantial contributions to the Sunrise Centre Appeal to the Parents and Children Together Project, the charity supports a diverse range of work including the partnership project for integrated health centres, now being piloted at schools in Bude, Hayle and Truro.

Hubs for people with Parkinson's are held at: Cuddra WI Hall, St Austell, second Wednesday in the month. Next three meetings: March 10, April 7, May 12; Millennium House, Pensilva, Liskeard, third Wednesdays. Next meetings March 17, April 14.