A grandmother is determined to stop people with Parkinson’s disease being treated as "invalids”.

Wendy Werth, of Hendon Lane, Finchley, was diagnosed with the neurological disorder 12 years ago when she was 56.

But instead of falling into depression, the former businesswoman helps organise dance and music classes and has created a support network for people with the condition.

She spoke up about the illness, which can cause extreme tremors and muscle stiffness, as part of Parkinson’s disease awareness week, which ended on Sunday.

She said: “I believe there is a life after Parkinson’s. I don’t like taking medication so I went down the other route of exercises and it’s changed my life.

“People treat us like we are invalids and we needn’t be. We want to take the parrot off the shoulder because it feels like it’s a weight pulling you down.

“After I was diagnosed I had to stop work, I could not hold a knife and fork or write normally and my speech was getting quieter.”

She has found that acupuncture, gyro kinetics, qigong, club swinging and dancing have all helped slow the condition down.

As part of Parkinson’s disease Awareness Week, Finchley and Golders Green parliamentary candidate Mike Freer joined in with last Wednesday’s dance session.

Ms Werth added: “It was great having Mr Freer there and we had a brilliant, fantastic time.

“The important thing is that when you are diagnosed with Parkinson’s, it’s not just about medication – you don’t have to be a zombie.

“I recently met three people who had just been diagnosed and they were all petrified because nobody gave them any information and they had no positivity from the doctors.

“These sessions are a great support network.”

Pineapple Studios dance teacher Victoria Trotter takes dance a class every other Wednesday at Trinity Church, in Nether Street, Finchley.

On Saturdays, Neil Archer runs a qigong and meditation class at the Free Church Hall, in Northway, Hampstead Garden Suburb.