FOR Bolton mum Chantell Calderbank a slight tremor in one finger eventually led to her being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease - at just 42.

The diagnosis of the progressive neurological condition last year proved devastating for Chantell, who has two boys aged 18 and 12. But, she is fighting back – by taking up boxing.

Chantell was recovering at home from an operation in September, 2016, when she first noticed her finger tremor which spread to her thumb.

“It was odd but I wasn’t overly concerned to begin with,” she recalled.

However, a few months later, she noticed her whole hand had a tremor and her right shoulder was stiff. In fact, brushing her teeth one day, she realised her shoulder and arm were not working. “I was effectively brushing my teeth by moving my head from side to side rather than my arm!” she said.

Her GP told her it was probably “essential tremor”, a nerve disorder, which could just come and go. By last summer, though, even some of the simplest tasks, like blow-drying her hair, were difficult and the tremor was affecting her work as a PA.

When Chantell walked, she felt her leg was dragging, she felt very tired and climbing the stairs became a struggle. She also had very vivid night time dreams.

Her GP referred her to a neurologist at Salford Royal Hospital who put her through various tests. When she returned for the results, she was really shocked to be told she had Parkinson’s Disease. “I stayed in the car park for a short time then I burst out crying,” said Chantell.

At home, she spent the next two days on her laptop searching for answers. “The two recurring thoughts in my head were: ‘There’s been a mistake. I can’t have Parkinson’s – I’m only 42’ and ‘Why did this happen to me?’”

Her researches, however, revealed a large amount of information about helpful exercise and when she went on the Parkinson’s UK website and joined a forum, there were lots of useful suggestions about fitness and the gym. She discovered something called Rock Steady Boxing – a contactless form of boxing training for people with Parkinson’s in the US but she couldn’t find a similar class in the UK.

However, when she rang around local gyms she found that Elite Boxing in Wordsworth Street, Halliwell already worked with a Parkinson’s patient. “It took all my courage to enter the doors of the gym for the first time,” said Chantell. “I was so anxious and nervous, my tremor was on full voltage. But the staff and qualified coaches were so welcoming and any fears I had soon disappeared.”

The head coach and gym owner Alex Matvienko, a former professional boxer, was especially supportive. “I’m a great believer in exercise for everyone,” he explained, “and we had already seen improvement in someone with Parkinson’s.”

Chantell has been going to Elite for just a month. The non-contact training involves a variety of exercise including working with the pads, punching, and movement to improve her agility and co-ordination.

She goes three times a week, for around an hour each time, including a free over 50s session twice a week which Alex suggested she would enjoy. “I love it all!” said Chantell.

“I already feel better – I’ve lost some weight and my arm strength has really improved. Not only that, everyone is so nice and supportive that I feel like part of a family. I also feel like I’m doing something to help myself.”

Parkinson’s UK estimate the number of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the UK at around 145,000 – around one adult in every 350, including around 1,750 people under 50.

Commented Dr Beckie Port from Parkinson’s UK: “Evidence suggests that increasing exercise to 2.5 hours a week can slow the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms.

“Boxing training is a type of non-contact fitness training designed to help build strength, lessen symptoms and allow people to lead a healthy and happier life – and Chantell’s story demonstrates the benefits that this can have.”

n World Parkinson’s Day is on Wednesday, April 11. For more information and help around Parkinson’s visit www.parkinsons.org.uk