BESTSELLING author Joanne Harris is supporting a competition for creative people with Parkinson’s Disease.
The tenth annual Mervyn Peake Awards are now open and anyone with Parkinson’s Disease – a degenerative disorder of the nervous system – can enter their poetry, photography, art and digital art.
Joanne Harris, best known for her novel turned film Chocolat, will present the winners with their awards at a London ceremony this summer.
The Almondbury woman said: “I am delighted to support the Mervyn Peake Awards, created to give the opportunity to those with Parkinson’s to express themselves through poetry, art or photography.
“These awards remind us all of what can be done when surrender is not an option.
“Living with Parkinson’s over the last two decades of his life, Mervyn Peake continued to produce book illustrations, plays and poetry in which he draws quite clearly on aspects, both mental and physical, of his condition.
“The fact that he was still able to think and to work creatively in such circumstances should be an inspiration to everyone.”
The creations of Mervyn Peake – who had Parkinson’s – include the series of Gormenghast novels and his Alice in Wonderland illustrations.
Entries are being accepted now and the closing date is March 31, 2011.
For more information call 020 7963 9319, email mervynpeake@parkinsons.org.uk or visit parkinsons.org.uk
