Family and friends of a former policeman are hoping a striking nativity scene will help raise awareness of a devastating illness which struck when he was only in his 30s.
The traditional scene of Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and wise men has sprung up in the entrance to Baytree Nurseries Garden Centre, Weston, where it is hoped it will help to raise money and, more importantly, make people more aware of the progressive neurological disease Parkinson’s.
The display is the brainchild of Sarah and Matt Winspear and friends Nigel and Gitta Wallis, who work as the general manager and a buyer for Baytree, who were inspired to create the Pallets for Parkinson’s display while on holiday in Austria.
Matt (51), who was a policeman in Spalding, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s when he was just 36.
Sarah said: “The four of us were on holiday in Austria and saw this nativity scene on the village green made out of pallets and felt we could do it better and use it to raise awareness of Parkinson’s.”
Sarah then got creative using a jigsaw to craft the shapes for the figures and make the scene, before painting it up ready for display at Baytree.
Sarah added: “Our main aim is to raise awareness.
“People think of Parkinson’s as only affecting older people but we know of at least three other people in their late 30s and early 40s in Spalding who suffer from it.
“It’s a terrible disease because its effects can mean the sufferer has what is called a ‘Parkinson’s mask’, which means their face doesn’t show any expression.
“It means people can talk down to them and treat them as though they are stupid, which obviously isn’t the case.”
Matt first noticed a slight tremor in his little finger when he was swimming and symptoms worsened before he had Deep Brain Stimulators inserted in a 13 and a half hour operation – during which he was awake – seven years ago.
His condition is now well managed.
As well as a collection box on the nativity scene for donations, all proceeds of the sale of carrots to feed Baytree’s reindeer and baby camels during the weekend of November 28 and 29 will also be given to the local Parkinson’s UK support group.
