A DORCHESTER actress and writer is hoping her emotional and thought-provoking play can be transformed in to a film and make a 'lifelong difference' to Parkinson's sufferers. 

Sue Wylie, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease six years ago and on discovering that very little is known about the condition she felt compelled to write a play to give people living with Parkinson's a voice. 

The play, called Kinetics, toured to great critical acclaim in autumn 2016 and a re-occurring comment to Sue was that it needed to be seen by a wider audience and had huge potential as a teaching resource for a wide range of health professionals as well as the general public.

In order to achieve this, Sue is driving a funding campaign to create a film of Kinetics - but to do this she needs to raise £30,000.

The play is based on Sue's own experience and follows the relationship between a middle-aged woman and a bright but bored student who is struggling with ADHD and finds release in free running.

A registered charity, DT2 Productions, has now been formed with the objectives of advancing education about Parkinson's and helping sufferers come to terms with and cope psychologically with their condition. 

Sue hopes the film will be used as an innovative teaching resource for people with the condition, medical professionals, carers and the general public. 

She further hopes that the film will raise questions about patient empowerment, breaking bad news and will therefore provide a much-needed insight in to living with a chronic condition.

Sue said that the group has already been approached by several universities, hospitals and Parkinson's UK about using the film as a teaching toolkit.

A director and crew for the film have been organised, the charity now needs help in funding the necessary £30,000 to make it happen.

Sue said: "Your support in raising awareness of our campaign, along with anything you can afford to give, will be so gratefully received.

"I want to film this play while my symptoms are still manageable. I would be so happy if we could achieve this."

The fundraising for Kinetics will goes live today.

To donate or for more information visit dt2productions.co.uk

"I felt there was a stigma attached to my condition"

Speaking about her ambitions, Sue said: "After my diagnosis there came a period of shock and denial and a feeling of being left rather high and dry with very little information or support.

"On talking to other people with Parkinson's it became clear this was a common experience.

"There are also a lot of misconceptions about Parkinson's Disease and so I wrote Kinetics to raise awareness, challenge attitudes and to engage and inform people.

"I felt there was a stigma attached to my condition and realised the only way to do something about it was to speak out about it.

"We used audience feedback from Parkinson's groups to help shape and develop the play so they felt their voices were being heard. I also worked in close collaboration with Professor Ralph Gregory who offered medical expertise and organised for consultant neurologists to come to each of our shows.

"They play has not only helped me process things for myself, but also had a cathartic effect on members of the audience, regardless of whether they have Parkinson's or not.

"Parkinson's has certainly changed my life, but it has also led me to producing something that I hope will make a lifelong difference and by my legacy."