A WELLINGTON man now known to be suffering from what has been referred to as ‘Parkinson’s-plus’ is raising awareness of the condition after initially being misdiagnosed.

Tony Walkers, a long-term Wellington Rugby Club supporter, sponsor, and volunteer, was thought by his doctors for several years to have developed Parkinson’s.

But last year his condition was identified as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), which displays various features of Parkinson’s and other more well-known conditions.

With PSP Awareness Week starting on Monday (June 17), Tony, who lives in Beech Hill, wants to encourage more understanding of the disease.

Tony’s PSP diagnosis came in June, 2023, after several years of symptoms, including more than 200 falls.

His wife and carer, Chris Walkers, said: “These were attributed to various factors, but the root cause was not recognised until he was hospitalised last year after one of his falls.

“For Tony, always known as the life and soul of the party, as his friends will confirm, the adjustment has been very difficult and he is now a wheelchair user and needs constant care.”

Earlier this year, the Wellington Weekly reported on how Tony had highlighted the state of pavements and awkward dropped kerbs in the town which made it difficult for him to get around in his wheelchair.

Some of the dropped kerbs sloped so sharply that it could become a ‘physically demanding’ challenge for somebody to push wheelchair users up and onto the pavement.

Tony said at the time that action needed to be taken to help make Wellington’s town centre more accessible and friendly for wheelchair users.

He is also a former county president of the Somerset Federation of Young Farmers Clubs, having been a YFC member in his youth and held a number of national posts.

Because of his condition he was unable to travel to the last annual reunion weekend, so the YFC Ambassadors Association made the PSPA, which is the registered charity for the condition, one of its causes for the event.

Afterwards, a cheque for £375 was presented to Tony and Chris for them to pass on to the charity.

A PSPA spokesman said the association was a ‘dedicated patron of transformative research, enhancing our comprehension of PSP and corticobasal degeneration (CBD)’.

The spokesperson said: “As we deepen our understanding of these conditions, we can significantly elevate the quality of life for those affected and fast-track innovative treatments aimed at halting PSP and CBD in their progression.

“However you choose to support our work, thank you.

“You are helping us to make a real difference to the lives of families affected by PSP and CBD.”

Tony has been associated with many groups during his life and was also a member and one-time president of Wiveliscombe Rotary Club, and is still a supporter of the organisation; 

Anybody who wants to make a donation to the PSPA during PSP Awareness Week from June 17 to 23, possibly in Tony’s name, or to find out more about the condition, can contact it through its website here or call 01327 322414.