Former footballer leading fight against Parkinson's in Liverpool

John Roche, 58, spent seven seasons at Marine but was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2012

Former footballer leading the fight against Parkinson's disease in Liverpool

A former local footballer is leading the fight against Parkinson's disease in Liverpool.

John Roche, 58, was diagnosed with the degenerative disorder in 2012 after enjoying an amateur career that included seven seasons at Marine.

In December, he co-founded Northern Lights, a Parkinson's community aiming to raise awareness and funds to fight the disease while providing help and support to members.

Northern Lights were originally scheduled to compete in the inaugural Cure Parkinson's Cup football tournament in April but following the outbreak of coronavirus, Roche has continued to nurture the organisation with co-founders James Clark, Keith McIndoe and Annie Booth.

"It's a big whack around the head when your doctor tells you that you have Parkinson's," Roche, who had noticed symptoms as early as five years before his diagnosis, told the ECHO.

"It is the most misunderstood condition but allegedly the fastest growing neurological problem.

"Most people associate it with an old man, sitting, shaking uncontrollably but it is so much more and they cannot tell you. There is no straight path you go down - every individual gets it differently. They might as well give you a blank ticket."

Northern Lights currently have a dozen members regularly involved with the scheme but Roche is keen to reach a wider audience.

A video he shared on Twitter earlier this month was viewed by more than 200,000 people as it demonstrated the changes inspired by football in his movement after initially struggling to reach the garden door.

And following a chance meeting at a Marine game, Roche and Clark set out to bring a team together to compete in the Cure Parkinson's Cup.

But when his team-mates arrived, Roche noticed something.

"Nobody was talking about football, they were talking about Parkinson's," he said. "It was a self-help group that brought people out of their shell to talk about their own condition.

"One guy has had Parkinson's for 15 years and we were the first people he had spoken to."

Roche is looking to help others who are '"losing their fight" against Parkinson's and offer them a chance to achieve an ambition or enjoy an activity that has been taken from them by the disease.

One member of Northern Lights was diagnosed at 26 while others are raising young families.

"We have this aim of finding anybody who is struggling," Roche said.

"Either them or their partner, because it takes from your partner as well, and bring them into an environment where they are comfortable to do what they used to do and enjoy themselves rather than be stuck inside."

Marine have offered Northern Lights the use of their facilities for the scheme, which is set to formally launch on June 1.

Roche, meanwhile, is hoping to organise a tournament for next year that would reunite historic amateur teams from across Liverpool in a seven-a-side format.

"I know what Marine are like and I know the people who drive the club," he said. "It is a privilege to be involved with them, it really is.

"The family that football has given me is unbelievable. I'm getting friend requests from people I had only ever fought. They are ringing me and offering me help.

"We've not been mates, we've played against each other, kicked each other, and I'm getting calls and offers from them, offering to help and get teams together."

Roche has developed firm friendships within Northern Lights but estimates some members of the group can suffer body tremors for up to 14 hours a day.

With treatment becoming less effective over time and depression a known side effect, Roche wants to spread the Northern Lights message immediately.

"Although we can't get to them physically at the moment, we can talk to people, because it might take us a month to get them to come to a meeting," Roche said.

"At the moment, I've no idea whether we will get five people, 50 people or 500 people coming. After that video went on Twitter and got all those views, there's no guessing, to be honest.

"The message we want to get out is that Parkinson's isn't the end. It's the beginning, it's a different beginning.

"The main thing is to get help to people who need it and enjoy ourselves along the way."

If you or a family member would be interested in Northern Lights' work, you can follow John Roche on Twitter: @johnroc92928019

You can also find out more on their website: www.nlpd2019.com