2026 EOFY

Appeal

Donate now to Parkinson’s Australia

Parkinson’s doesn’t discriminate. It affects parents, grandparents, athletes, CEOs, neighbours, best friends – anyone.

But it doesn’t define them.

Our I Am More Than My Parkinson’s EOFY campaign is about dissolving stigma and showing the truth: people with Parkinson’s are still themselves. Capable. Valuable. Living big, beautiful lives.

Your tax-deductible donation funds real support including practical resources, advocacy, and programs for people living with Parkinson’s every single day.

This tax time, help ensure people with Parkinson’s are seen, heard, and supported, not reduced to a diagnosis.

Meet Robyn Higgins

Portrait photo of Robyn Higgins, smiling for the camera, wearing a black sleeveless top and pearl necklace.

Main signs / symptoms

  • Predominantly non-motor symptoms
  • Constipation
  • Urinary frequency and urgency
  • Rigidity
  • Gait issues
  • Bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
  • Internal symptoms that are not always visible to others

Age: 71

Diagnosis age: 62

Fun facts:

  1. I’d never been in a gym prior to my diagnosis, but after learning exercise can slow Parkinson’s progression, I turned that around and can now do a 3-minute dead hang.
  2. At age two, I inhaled a peanut into my lung. After hours of coughing and emergency surgery, where my heart briefly stopped, surgeons revived me in what was a groundbreaking procedure for the 1950s. (They never found the peanut.)
Robyn working on her dead-hang in the gym

Breaking down the stigma

Parkinson’s is a progressive and currently incurable condition, but no two people experience it the same way. It affects the whole body, not just movement-impacting sleep, breathing, facial expression, motivation, and more.

Many of our symptoms are invisible, which can lead to misunderstanding when someone “doesn’t look like” they have Parkinson’s.

Greater awareness, patience, and a willingness to offer support when someone is struggling can make a meaningful difference.

What I want you to know

Persistence is key – never give up. Surround yourself with positive people and focus on the good things in your life. Exercise, particularly Parkinson’s-specific exercise, plays a vital role in slowing progression and maintaining quality of life. While sadly, there is no cure medication can make a significant difference in managing symptoms and improving day-to-day wellbeing.

Your donation helps us break the stigma, share the real stories of those living with Parkinson’s, and educate our communities so understanding replaces assumption.

Parkinson’s Australia empowers people living with the condition to speak for themselves.

Robyn astride a black Vespa, infront of a beautiful sunset over a body of water.

Without your support, our community doesn’t have a voice!