In the ninth in our series profiling the bloggers supporting the World Parkinson Congress 2019, we talk to Debbie Shapiro about why she started a non-profit organisation for Parkinson’s community in Jerusalem, the challenges of finding time to blog – and why people shouldn’t ignore Parkinson’s
Describe yourself in a sentence.
I am a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and ‘Master Juggler’.
Is there an aspect of Parkinson’s that you’re most passionate about?
Yes, I believe it’s important for people to be proactive about their own health. People should try to understand the disease and then do whatever is necessary to battle it. They shouldn’t ignore Parkinson’s or pretend it does not exist – they should embrace the challenge and use it as a tool for growth.
How widely read is your blog and in which countries?
I have over 100 subscribers who are mainly based in the US, Canada, Western Europe, and Israel.
Have you been surprised by the global audience you’ve attracted?
Yes, I’ve made friends with people from all over the world.
Which of your posts has attracted the most interest from your readers?
‘Please Don’t Pity Me’ which is about ‘Tikvah for Parkinson’ – a non-profit organisation working to provide physical and emotional support for Parkinson’s community in greater Jerusalem. Another popular post is ‘Bubby Blunders’ which tells the story of our search for a boxing instructor to lead fitness classes for people with Parkinson’s. It also featured in Binah Magazine, a weekly magazine for Jewish women.