Players with Parkinson's bid for table tennis glory

Rob Dawson used to play table tennis regularly in the 1970s and 1980s and recently reignited his passion for the sport

People with Parkinson's disease are being offered special table tennis sessions with a chance of competing in a world championship.

MESC Table Tennis Club, based in Stoke-on-Trent, is running sessions twice a month and is on the lookout for more players, who could progress to play on the global stage.

Parkinson's disease is a condition which affects the brain, which become progressively damaged over a number of years.

Playing table tennis can help sufferers reduce the effects of their symptoms as well as keeping active.

Its main symptoms include involuntary shaking, as well as stiff and inflexible muscles.

'Good social activity'

MESC sessions are open to players who want to attend the sessions simple on social basis.

However, some players have gone on to take part in the global Ping Pong Parkinson competition, which encourages wider participation in the sport.

The competition’s fourth world championship event, held in Austria, was attended by nearly 300 competitors from 24 different countries.

Rob Dawson, 70, is one of the club's players with Parkinson’s and recently reignited his passion for the sport after a gap of almost 30 years.

“It helps with coordination, movement and it’s a very good social activity,” he said.

He used to play regularly in the 1970s and 1980s, but following his diagnosis he was delighted to find there was a global competition dedicated to people with the disease.

He said: “It’s like a great big family – people from all over the world play.”

'Heart-warming'

There are some adaptations involved to make it easier – for example people playing in the Parkinson’s tournament are allowed to put their hands on the table to support themselves.

They’re also allowed to take additional breaks and have more spectators around the table than regular matches.

Mr Dawson counts himself as one of the more mobile members of the club, as his disease doesn’t affect him that much.

“When you go to the world championships, you see some really heart warming cases,” he said.

“People who just can’t control their movements will get up and play, and when they’ve got a bat in their hand they can play.”

Mr Dawson has competed in two world championships, and came second in a Scottish open competition, as well as twice coming third in the English championships.

He said taking part has enabled him to make friends from all over the world by taking part.

“It’s opened a whole new world up for me,” he said.