The Lowestoft Parkinson’s Support Group is hosting a spring dance next month to raise money to support people locally and across the country who have been diagnosed with the disease.

The group was formed in October 2014 to provide friendship and support to people living with Parkinson’s, along with their carers.

Funds are raised for both the local group and Parkinson’s UK, and the next event will be a grand charity dance featuring the Super Swing Big Band on Saturday, May 13. It will be held at the Bethal Theatre in Lowestoft from 7.30pm.

The Lowestoft support group holds meetings on the first Monday of the month at 2pm at St Benedict’s Hall in Hollingsworth Road. They start with a guest speaker, and while they have Parkinson’s related talks, they also have speakers from all walks of life with the prime aim to entertain as well as inform. The afternoon also includes tea and cakes plus a raffle ending with some fun exercises.

A spokesman from the group said: “We have introduced carer’s coffee mornings and tai chi lessons, plus a fun keep fit session with Tracy a local exercise instructor. Last month we had a research team member covering the latest issues on finding a cure. There is no known cure for Parkinson and the medication we are having prescribed has now been in use for 50 years. The condition is slowly getting worse over time. However there is no set pattern and no two people are the same; some will freeze, others will shake, and the degree of progression will vary from person to person.

“It is important that we keep active and maintain confidence and use the benefits of being a group.”

The funds raised for the group enable members to attend the monthly meetings for free, as well enjoying trips out.

Tickets for the charity dance, which are selling fast, are priced at £16 and include a cold buffet and entry to a £100 prize draw.

For more information about the group or the dance, contact Mike on 07919491334 or Richard on 07973126331.

The event is sponsored by Dingles of Lowestoft and SR Insurance Services.