When Mrs Gray’s father, Alan Doughton, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease six years ago she realised how little it was known and spoken about in the community.

So she decided she wanted to do something about it to help other families and people diagnosed in the future.

She did that last year by organising Wollongong’s first ever Parkinson’s NSW Unity Walk and Run.

It was so successful, with more than 140 participants taking part, that she decided to do it again.

The second walk and run is scheduled for Sunday, August 30.

Registrations can be made at unitywalkandrun.com.au and will be taken on the day at 9am.

Then at 10am the walk and run will take place along the Wollongong foreshore between Diggies at North Beach and the Lagoon Seafood Restaurant.

‘‘There will be shirts and other merchandise here on the day,’’ Mrs Gray said.

‘‘It is a two-kilometre walk or a five-kilometre run.’’

Mrs Gray said corporate support from Bendigo Bank, in Oak Flats and Shellharbour, and NetWorth Financial Planners in Wollongong had been wonderful.

‘‘We are raising awareness, funds and support for people with Parkinson’s and their carers,’’ she said.

‘‘I know 30 people are diagnosed every day in Australia, where there is over 80,000 people with Parkinson’s. And one in 10 are aged under 40. I have a friend who will be here on the day who has Parkinson’s and she is in her early 40s.’’

Mr Doughton said it was wonderful what his daughter was doing.

‘‘It came as a great surprise last year when she organised this,’’ he said.

‘‘The first one was a real family day.’’

Mr Doughton said more research was important, as was support.

‘‘There is a Parkinson’s nurse that they are trying to get down here in the Illawarra,’’ he said.

Mr Doughton said there was still not a lot known about Parkinson’s and what caused it.

He said the disease affected people in different ways.

Mrs Gray said some of the people who participated last year were locals who had done the walk  in Sydney previously.