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| BRAVE: Phillippa King |
TRIBUTES have been paid to a brave campaigner who pledged to donate her brain to scientists conducting research into a crippling disease.
Phillippa King was featured on the front page of the Bridport News in April 2009 and her dying wish has now been fulfilled.
She passed away on August 22 at Wymondley Nursing Home in Hertfordshire aged 78.
In a statement, her family said her many friends and family living in Bridport will be ‘much comforted’ by the news of her successful brain donation to the Parkinson’s Brain Bank.
Phillippa moved to Bridport after she retired, with her late husband Tony King, living there up until 2014. Due to the worsening of the Parkinson’s disease she then moved to Wymondley Nursing Home in the village of Little Wymondley to be near her children and grandchildren, who all live in Stevenage.
Her family said: “Phillippa's last wish has been fulfilled: to donate her brain to the Parkinson's Brain Bank who are undertaking research into this crippling disease. We the family are of course grieving her loss but we are happy in the knowledge that her passing may contribute to finding a cure to the debilitating illness that she fought for twenty years.
“At first Phillippa was not sure whether to donate her brain but the campaign by the Parkinson's Disease Society overcame her doubts. The harsh reality of living with a disease without a cure is terrible. Nevertheless Phillippa always had a strong spirit, loved to stay active and to socialise and was always supported by her loving family.
“Her generous donation will hopefully help researchers to find a treatment to overcome this horrendous disease.”
They added that they hoped her bravery would encourage others to donate their organs to help eradicated diseases.
In a letter to the family, Ville Pitkaaho, a research nurse at Parkinson’s UK Brain Bank, said: “I hope that you will find some comfort in being reminded that it is only through the generosity and forethought of donors such as your mother, that we can gain a better understanding of the cause and treatment of Parkinson’s.”
Speaking in 2009, Phillippa said choosing to donate her brain was one of the hardest decisions she had ever had to make.
She spoke out to raise awareness of a campaign run by the Parkinson’s disease Society (PDS) to persuade more people to sign up as brain donors.
Phillipa's daughter Amanda said her mum was a 'big extrovert' whose generosity and love of people encouraged her decision to donate.
Amanda said: "Mum was a big personality and was generous and caring. She loved meeting people.
"What she has done is fantastic and we are all so proud of her; her donation will be used for all kinds of research into this unpredictable and debilitating disease.
"I would recommend that other people with Parkinsons disease sign up to the register because it is a lasting legacy. How else will we find a cure? Mum fought the disease for 17 years even now she's still fighting back."
Her funeral will be held at 3pm on September 4 at St Hilda’s Church in Stevenage and all acquaintances of Phillippa are welcome to attend.
http://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/15504404.Tributes_as_brave_campaigner_leaves_her_brain_to_aid_scientists_battling_Parkinson_s/
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