Former firefighter diagnosed with Parkinsons embarks on epic charity trek

It is Parkinson's Awareness Week and those living with the condition are urged not to hide it - but to seek the support that is out there for them.

Former firefighter Leanne Owen is doing her bit to highlight the disease - she is on day two of an epic cycle challenge across the region. Leanne, a mother-of-two, was diagnosed at the age of 42.

But according to a new survey by Parkinson's UK, around 40 per cent of people with the disease in the Yorkshire and Humber region have felt the need to hide their symptoms or lie about having the condition.

The research has revealed an alarming level of fear around sharing a diagnosis of Parkinson's, and the charity says this is cutting people off from the vital support available at a time when many report struggling emotionally to come to terms with their condition.

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A former firefighter from West Yorkshire has set off on a charity cycle challenge to raise awareness of Parkinson's disease.

Leanne Owen, a mother-of-two, was herself diagnosed with the condition five years ago at the age of just 42. She's determined not to be beaten by the condition. Hannah Miller went to see her off on the first leg of her journey.

Read: Former firefighter takes on cycling challenge after Parkinson's diagnosis

A former firefighter who was diagnosed with Parkinson's when she was just 42, is embarking on a cycling challenge around Yorkshire and north Lincolnshire this morning.

Leanne Owen will set off from Wakefield on a 477-mile charity trek.