A community based table tennis session supporting people with Parkinson’s is on the verge of celebrating it’s first anniversary.

Parkinson’s Table Tennis at the Norman Booth Centre in Harlow (home of BATTS) was introduced on Friday 14th June 2024, with the session this coming Friday (13th June 2025) – the group’s 49th session of a hugely successful first year.

During the course of the previous year, the group have welcomed a visit from their Enfield counterparts and held a Christmas celebration session and an after-coaching meal at a nearby pub to celebrate World Parkinson’s Day!

The participants are also seeing a benefit from attending the sessions on a weekly basis:

“I’m really enjoying table tennis.    It’s strange but when I am playing I feel ‘normal’ and I even forget that I have Parkinson’s.” 

“This year our Mum has started your Parkinson’s Ping Pong in Harlow and its clear from the feedback I get from her that it’s been a hugely positive experience. So primarily, I am writing on behalf of me and my siblings to thank you for your coaching, enthusiasm, and no doubt your patience!  That Mum has an extra engaging way to exercise, and that she is proving to herself that ‘the old dog can learn new tricks’ (for want of a better phrase!) is just brilliant.  That she has begun this post-Parkinson’s diagnosis, and more pertinently since we lost Dad, is really pretty remarkable.  So thank you very much!”

A huge congratulations to both Sandy Nash and Pauline Jones for developing the programme over the past year, let’s hope there are many more years to come!