Married At First Sight star Ryan Gallagher is using his profile for good.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia for World Parkinson’s Day this Saturday, the 32-year-old revealed his father Bob has a rare type, and is ‘in a motor scooter and can’t talk’.
Ryan maintained that he’s ‘always been taught to focus on the positives’ and while there’s no cure yet, ‘comfort for people battling the disease’ is just as important.
In Australia, there are over 100,000 living with Parkinson’s, and a further 38 Australians are diagnosed every day – that’s one every 40 minutes.
Using his profile for good: Married At First Sight star Ryan Gallagher (pictured), 31, has spoken of his father Bob’s Parkinson’s disease, in a bid to raise awareness this World Parkinson’s Day
When asked what was going through his mind at the time of his father’s diagnosis, Ryan said: ‘My grandmother had it as well so I sort of knew what we were in for.
‘She had mild Parkinson’s – at least you can live a life with it, other diseases such as terminal ones, you don’t get that option.
‘I was always taught to look at the positive in situations, so I really try to focus on that.’
‘It affects his walking and speech very badly’: Ryan’s father Bob (pictured with Vickie, Ryan’s mother) has a rare type of Parkinson’s. Bob is in a motor scooter and can’t talk. They are pictured in a segment on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! earlier this year
Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease affecting movement and balance. As the disease progresses, the individual increasingly loses the ability to move freely, thus inhibiting the ability to perform every day tasks.
The disease also has an increasing impact on mental health, cognitive and social functioning, and the ability to communicate with others.
‘My dad has a very rare type of Parkinson’s that only a few people in Australia have,’Ryan said. ‘It affects his walking and speech very badly. He’s in a motor scooter and can’t talk.
‘Dad has always really lived his own life and takes trips by himself’: Ryan told Daily Mail Australia that his father remains upbeat
Despite the hardships, Ryan told Daily Mail Australia that his father remains upbeat.
‘Dad has always really lived his own life and takes trips by himself. He’s happy doing his own thing.’
Organisations such as Shake It Up, who have partnered with The Michael J. Fox Foundation, are dedicated to finding better treatments to slow and stop the progression of Parkinson’s.
Ryan told Daily Mail Australia that alongside much-needed funds to find a cure, ‘comfort for people who are battling the disease’ is just as important.
‘Whether it’s comfort or medication’: Ryan added that alongside funds to find a cure, ‘comfort for people who are battling the disease’ is just as important. Pictured with his family
‘At the end of the day, sometimes finding a cure is given more emphasis, than treating patients with it, whether it’s comfort or medication,’ he said.
Shake It Up founder and CEO Clyde Campbell told Daily Mail Australia that they’re ‘committed as ever to finding better treatments that will slow and stop the progression of Parkinson’s, in our pursuit of a cure.’
‘The research field and Parkinson’s drug development pipeline are abundant with activity, and we will continue to build on current research momentum to further discovery,’ he said.
Partnership: Shake It Up has partnered with The Michael J.Fox Foundation to allow them to ‘focus short-term on finding ways to slow and stop the disease,’ while they continue on a cure and prevention. Pictured: Shake It Up founder and CEO, Clyde Campbell
Shake It Up’s ‘strong partnership’ with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, allows them to ‘focus short-term on finding ways to slow and stop the disease,’ while they continue on their objective of curing and preventing the disease from occurring.
Michael J. Fox reiterated this, saying in a statement: ‘Even in the face of tremendous challenges, our promise to push Parkinson’s research forward remains steadfast.
‘We’re problem-solvers and we’re optimistic.’
You can support Shake It Up in their research, by making a donation or hosting a virtual fundraising event with friends and family.
Making a difference: Michael J. Fox (pictured) reiterated this, saying: ‘Even in the face of tremendous challenges, our promise to push Parkinson’s research forward remains steadfast’