Retired Burghead paramedic (80) praises Elgin Parkinson's Beats drumming group, recognised within Moray £140k National Lottery charity windfall
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A RETIRED Moray paramedic with Parkinson's disease has said an Elgin drumming group is the "perfect" way to manage his condition, after the project was one of 11 in Moray to receive National Lottery cash.
Tony Cardwell (80), from Burghead, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2010.
After discovering and joining Parkinson's Beats, which hosts drumming sessions at Elgin Sports Centre and online to help improve the lives of those managing the disease, he noticed huge improvements in his condition and mood.
He said the regular events were "a boost", which left him feeling "really great".
“Each session gives me a boost, an uplift, and I just feel really great," Tony said.
"We use exercise balls instead of actual drums as they are cheap – and they take a really good bang."
To help the sessions continue, the National Lottery has awarded the Parkinson's Beats project £6240, as part of the latest round announced last week (September 20).
Drumming, according to the group, helps delay the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease by improving coordination and muscle tone, and promoting good mental health.
Tony agreed, saying that the skills drumming develops mean that the fun sessions are key to preserving his capabilities.
He recently celebrated his 80th birthday with the group and was gifted with a new set of drumsticks with all of his children and grandchildren’s names on it.
“When it comes to Parkinson’s it’s not just one problem, it’s a combination of things which is why drumming is perfect," Tony said.
"You need the exercise, the coordination, the smiley faces, the music, the incredible feel-good factor.
"Drumming gives me all that.
"With Parkinson’s it’s all about slowing up the advancement.
"I know I’m deteriorating but, if I can keep that to a much slower rate, that’s fantastic.”
Parkinson’s Beats founder Jo Holland also lives with the disease.
She set up the group last year after attending some online classes during lockdown.
“The euphoria that accompanies a drumming session convinced me that I needed to raise enough money to enable other people to benefit as I had," Jo said.
"This funding from the National Lottery is fantastic as it will allow us to continue for another 12 months.
"We’re spreading the word far and wide at the moment by going out and performing.
"We want to start training other people to do this so they can lead their own sessions.”
Another local group to receive funding was the Forres Area Community Trust, who were awarded £49,009 towards running a weekly pop-up advice cafe to support local residents dealing with the cost-of-living crisis.
The sessions will run for 12 months at Forres Town in Forres and will allow families to get support from a range of agencies.
Michelle Gillibrand, development manager at the Forres Area Community Trust, said: “The aim of the project is to help families make a real positive difference to their lives, helping them to manage their resources better, seek the help they need and reduce social isolation.
"We want to reduce the anxiety that people may feel, through getting them the support they need from the agencies and other community groups engaged in the project.”
Other Moray groups which received funding
Dufftown Community Centre received £10,000 to fund the upgrade of the local hub's kitchen units.
While a grant of £10,000 went to Hopeman Bowling Club, to set up a local community garden.
Buckie charity Moray Reach Out also saw their garden plans receive a £10,000 boost.
The organisation hopes to turn wild land at their East Church Street base into an accessible outdoor area for service users and community groups.
The future of Moray's own Pride event was also bolstered, as Pride in Moray received £10,000.
Moray Riding for the Disabled will be able to provide 12 weeks of subsidised sessions for more than 40 young people and adults with additional needs, with their grant of £10,000 Moray.
Transition Town Forres, who have recently been hit with difficult news about their future rents from Moray Council, received £9,694.
The funding will support weekly growing and food related after-school sessions for children and their families at their venue and garden.
Also recognised within the list of National Lottery grants was the Three Kings Cullen Association.
With a £7750 funding award, a sizeable contribution has been made to their efforts organising weekly Eat and Meet session open to all at the Community Centre in Cullen.
With a £5410 grant, the Findhorn Residents' Association will now be able to revamp Findhorn's playpark.
The cash will be used to refurbish bark ground cover along with the wooden retainers.
The Scottish Highlands & Islands and Moray Chinese Association also received £9820 to: "deliver two intergenerational day trips for minority ethnic community members in Inverness and Moray to foster strong community connections and cohesion."
Commenting on the latest grant round of funding The National Lottery Community Fund, Scotland Chair, Kate Still: said: “National Lottery funding continues to make extraordinary things happen in communities across Scotland.
“I am delighted that this funding will be used to support projects across Moray which have been developed by and for local people which will allow communities to come together to make life better for everyone.
"National Lottery player players can be proud to know that that money they raise is helping to support this vital work in Moray.”
The National Lottery Community Fund distributes funding on behalf of National Lottery players who raise more than £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK.
