After 18,000 miles, 12 months, 25 countries and one remarkable adventure – Parkinson’s campaigner Guy Deacon CBE’s documentary about his incredible African expedition aired this April on Channel 4.

How do you manage living with Parkinson’s? For former army officer and father of two Guy Deacon, this involved planning and undertaking a solo overland trip from his home in Sherborne, Dorset to Cape Town, South Africa.

First chronicled in his book Running on Empty, a documentary of Guy’s journey, World’s Toughest Drive: An African Adventure, aired on Channel 4 on Thursday 10 April at 11pm, one day before World Parkinson’s Day.

Not only did this trip fulfil a childhood dream of driving the length of Africa, but Guy used this unique opportunity to help raise global awareness of Parkinson’s and highlight the need for a cure.

The one hour documentary made by Rob Hayward Films shows the day-to-day challenges Guy faced undertaking his journey while managing his Parkinson’s, from extortion, extreme weather, terrible road conditions, contaminated fuel and a global pandemic.

The programme also shows Guy meeting with people living with Parkinson’s in almost all the countries he travelled through, and learning what their daily lives were like.

Guy was supported throughout by Parkinson’s Africa and Cure Parkinson’s. Commenting on the documentary, Cure Parkinson’s CEO Helen Matthews says:

“Guy’s adventure through West Africa was an incredible undertaking, but for someone living with Parkinson’s this was a truly inspiring journey. The support Guy received from Parkinson’s Africa was simply phenomenal. Guy’s aim was to draw attention to Parkinson’s and he has achieved that with this powerful film. Thank you to all involved, particularly Guy for raising the profile of Parkinson’s during Parkinson’s Awareness Month.”

To catch up with Guy’s incredible challenge, please see the link below.

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Watch Guy's journey