A loving daughter is stepping out throughout August in memory of her mum and to raise awareness of a little-known disease that claimed her life.
Jade Hunns-Marshall is planning on completing 10,000 steps a day in aid of PSP Association – a charity dedicated to helping those affected by progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration – a type of neurological condition that affects around 4,000 people in the UK.
Jade’s mum Joy Marshall died in January 2023 after battling the disease for nearly three years.
PSP is often misdiagnosed as its symptoms closely mimic those of Parkinson’s Disease and Joy struggled to get a diagnosis as her illness developed during the pandemic.
Jade said the family, which includes her older sisters, initially thought Joy was suffering from some form of dementia as her symptoms included forgetfulness.
“Mum would go to the shop and forget to take her purse, or she would go out and leave the house unlocked or something cooking in the oven. We did think it was probably dementia, but it took some time to get a proper diagnosis,” said Jade.
“It is quite rare and affects the whole body. Her eyesight was affected, she would stare straight ahead or her eyes would roll upwards as she had no control over them.
“She became very stiff in her arms and legs which meant she became less mobile. We used to have to massage her legs in order to help to stand up as her legs wouldn’t bend. She had a lot of falls because of her eyesight she would reach out for a doorframe or a piece of furniture that was too far away, but to her looked close.
“It is a terrible disease and it was heartbreaking to watch Mum go through it.”
Joy, who previously worked for a sewing factory in Weasenham Lane, Wisbech, was just 68 when she died.
Now Jade, who is from Wisbech and works at the Welle Pharmacy in Upwell, wants to make more people aware of the disease and she has also set a fundraising target of £1,000 via Justgiving (search Walk for Hope).
She intends to complete her 10,000 steps a day while working and also taking walks – especially at the weekends when she intends to walk in woodland and along nearby beaches.
“I know it is going to be a challenge,” said Jade who is joining the PSP Association’s fundraising drive, “but it is a very worthwhile cause.”
