Step up for Parkinson’s, in association with President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, hosted a reception at San Anton Palace to introduce Marc Vlemmix, founder of Dance for Health in the Netherlands and himself a Parkinson’s patient.

Mr Vlemmix and Natalie Muschamp have pulled their strength together to make people all over the world more aware of Parkinson’s disease and to alert people in Malta that there are free dance classes for patients with the disease.

The evening was opened by the President, who spoke about her own awareness of the deleterious effects of the disease and the benefits of dance. Dr Coleiro Preca admitted that she too was not aware of the effects and impact of the disease on patients and their loved ones, until she met Ms Muschamp – whichprompted the Malta Community Chest Fund to support Step Up for Parkinson’s.

Malta alone has 1,400 sufferers.  Through the awareness campaign Step up for Parkinson’s wants to reach everybody  and people join the free dance classes given in several locations.

Mr Vlemmix showed a short image on film of himself early in the morning and struggling with his movements, followed by how music and dance enabled him to walk proudly after only several minutes.

He explained how dance had helped him and so many other patients in the Netherlands. He went to the theatres in his country with a dance show performed by his patients and expressed his thanks for  being there and having met Ms Muschamp, saying that a long-term friendship and cooperation was born.

Ms Muschamp spoke and expressed her wish to reach all people in the world, to grow with her voluntary organisation and to help each and every individual with her dance classes.

Dance not only helps patients to move but takes them out of isolation together with their loved ones and welcomes them into a tight-knit family of people who are experiencing the same problems. Dance classes not only help the patient but the whole family.

Rachelle Muschamp, who founded Step up for Parkinson’s, together with her sister Natalie and Ezgi Harmanci, talked about the passion of her sister Natalie and her determination to help every single person in the world who suffers from Parkinson’s.