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| Dorset army colonel with Parkinson's finishes Africa trip | Dorset army colonel with Parkinson's finishes Africa trip |
| (4 months later) | |
| Guy Deacon's camper van clocked up 12,000 miles during his solo pan-Africa trip | Guy Deacon's camper van clocked up 12,000 miles during his solo pan-Africa trip |
| A retired army colonel with Parkinson's has completed a solo journey through Africa to raise awareness of the condition. | A retired army colonel with Parkinson's has completed a solo journey through Africa to raise awareness of the condition. |
| Guy Deacon, from Sherborne in Dorset, filmed his 12,000-mile drive across the continent, which ended in Cape Town last week. | Guy Deacon, from Sherborne in Dorset, filmed his 12,000-mile drive across the continent, which ended in Cape Town last week. |
| The 60-year-old, who was diagnosed 11 years ago, said the trip became "almost impossible" as his disease progressed. | The 60-year-old, who was diagnosed 11 years ago, said the trip became "almost impossible" as his disease progressed. |
| A TV documentary charting his journey will be made on his return to the UK. | A TV documentary charting his journey will be made on his return to the UK. |
| The former Bovington Camp commander said little was known about Parkinson's in Africa, where some people with the condition believe they have been cursed. | The former Bovington Camp commander said little was known about Parkinson's in Africa, where some people with the condition believe they have been cursed. |
| He said he appeared on national TV and radio programmes "to get the conversation going". | He said he appeared on national TV and radio programmes "to get the conversation going". |
| Mr Deacon appeared on "Good Morning Namibia" during his journey to South Africa | Mr Deacon appeared on "Good Morning Namibia" during his journey to South Africa |
| But Mr Deacon, who spent time in Africa while at university and in the army, did struggle to cope with the disease he set out to publicise. | But Mr Deacon, who spent time in Africa while at university and in the army, did struggle to cope with the disease he set out to publicise. |
| He said: "When I was in Ghana I was in bits and pieces, had a bit of a meltdown. I hadn't taken the right pills and was lost, I nearly ended up in hospital. | He said: "When I was in Ghana I was in bits and pieces, had a bit of a meltdown. I hadn't taken the right pills and was lost, I nearly ended up in hospital. |
| "But this fellow picked me up, had me to stay and let me sleep in his daughter's room. That family looked after me, they were so very kind and generous." | "But this fellow picked me up, had me to stay and let me sleep in his daughter's room. That family looked after me, they were so very kind and generous." |
| Mr Deacon spent time in Africa at university and during his time in the army | Mr Deacon spent time in Africa at university and during his time in the army |
| He said he never encountered any problems with people, and they "went out of their way to help. It was incredible". | He said he never encountered any problems with people, and they "went out of their way to help. It was incredible". |
| "The less they have, the more they do," he said. | "The less they have, the more they do," he said. |
| The retired colonel encountered wildlife on the way, here an elephant on the journey through Namibia | The retired colonel encountered wildlife on the way, here an elephant on the journey through Namibia |
| The retired colonel's Parkinson's means he cannot write "because my hands don't work properly", which makes "dealing with things like money really challenging," he told the BBC back in April. | The retired colonel's Parkinson's means he cannot write "because my hands don't work properly", which makes "dealing with things like money really challenging," he told the BBC back in April. |
| But he said driving was easy, as he just put his hands in the right place on the steering wheel. | But he said driving was easy, as he just put his hands in the right place on the steering wheel. |
| As his disease progressed at times it was "not unusual to be incapable of moving", Mr Deacon said. | As his disease progressed at times it was "not unusual to be incapable of moving", Mr Deacon said. |
| "I've proved I can do it but only just. It was almost impossible, Parkinson's nearly won," he said. | "I've proved I can do it but only just. It was almost impossible, Parkinson's nearly won," he said. |
| Mr Deacon had to fit two clutches on his truck but met a mechanic called Mohammed who helped him | Mr Deacon had to fit two clutches on his truck but met a mechanic called Mohammed who helped him |
| On reaching South Africa the 60-year-old said: "The release of the burden left me completely deflated. | On reaching South Africa the 60-year-old said: "The release of the burden left me completely deflated. |
| "I turned off the key to the engine, I put my head on the steering wheel. I was spent." | "I turned off the key to the engine, I put my head on the steering wheel. I was spent." |
| "You were emotional Guy, your lip was quivering," said film maker Rob Hayward, who met up with Mr Deacon on four occasions to help document the experience. | "You were emotional Guy, your lip was quivering," said film maker Rob Hayward, who met up with Mr Deacon on four occasions to help document the experience. |
| "It was really hard," the retired colonel admitted. "But emotionally I thought, what have I got to lose? | "It was really hard," the retired colonel admitted. "But emotionally I thought, what have I got to lose? |
| "They'll see me as I am. Nobody knows just how miserable this thing is. I've been pretty blunt. | "They'll see me as I am. Nobody knows just how miserable this thing is. I've been pretty blunt. |
| "For a guy from the army to be in tears on camera is something." | "For a guy from the army to be in tears on camera is something." |
| Mr Deacon started out in 2020, but the pandemic forced him to have a break before he set off again in April | Mr Deacon started out in 2020, but the pandemic forced him to have a break before he set off again in April |
| Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Parkinson's Disease | Parkinson's Disease |
| Africa |