A Parkinson’s sufferer has issued a heartfelt plea to save a charity helping people across Wandsworth.

The local branch of the Parkinson’s UK charity urgently needs help to continue working with about 60 people with the debilitating disease.

The charity gives advice to local sufferers, organises outings, exercise classes and social events. But members fear the group may be forced to close if it does not find an active chairman, two vice-chairmen and a secretary.

Widower Bob Murphy, 64, a former chef from Roehampton, said: "We are desperate for volunteers. We did have a young Parkinson’s group who worked with us but they broke away.

"At the moment people come along once a month as we can’t afford to do anything else. The people love to come to the classes as they get a bit of a social and can get information.

"The social is the big thing as people like to know they are doing something - not just sitting at home feeling bad.

"The money has stopped coming in. We have only enough to run for another year or so. We are sort of desperate for volunteers to get us back on form."

Parkinson's is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. The main symptoms of Parkinson's are tremor, rigidity and slowness of movement. Symptoms and how quickly they progress are different for everyone.Wandsworth Times:

There is currently no cure, but drugs and treatments are available to manage many of the symptoms.

Mr Murphy added: "In a lot of cases there isn't a lot to be done. It is not an illness that will kill you but is very debilitating. There can be pain - I get chronic pain syndrome but it’s not the same for everybody.

"I was diagnosed last year but I had symptoms from 2010 when I used to get double vision. They didn't know what it was to start with - then last November I had about 30 falls.

"Getting work is impossible, people don’t want to know you. If you tell them you have Parkinson’s you are almost unemployable. I do voluntary work instead."

The charity currently runs on about £300 to £400 a month, with transport the largest cost.

The group meets in the Manresa Clubroom, Fontley Way, Roehampton.

If you can help the charity, either by filling one of the posts or fundraising, call Mr Murphy on 020 8789 6494 or the branch and volunteer support officer Norma Elliot on 0844 2253705.