A Legacy of Hope for Parkinson’s Patients

Kate Wilkinson (nee Harrington) from Bandon, County Cork, met her now husband Tony through a mutual friend when they were both living in London. They were going out together a few months when they realised that they had met about two years earlier through the same friend. As it turned out, second time’s the charm.

In 2015, Tony was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and since then the couple have dedicated their lives to advocacy, raising awareness, and building support for the disease and other chronic neurological disorders in Ireland and around the world. Tony works closely with thew Neurological Alliance of Ireland (NAI) and in 2026 will be Ireland’s ambassador for the World Parkinson Congress. Kate supports Tony's work and runs a group for the carers of People with Parkinson's (PWPs) to help support them on their journey.

Building on their volunteer work, Kate and Tony have included a gift in their will to support Parkinson's research at UCC. In doing so, they are investing in the future of diagnosis, treatment, and care for the disease and leaving an enduring legacy that will extend beyond their lifetime.

The couple were kind enough to answer a few questions about why they decided to leave this generous legacy and what impact they hope it will have.

Are there specific values or experiences that have guided your decision to give back?

Neither of us had the opportunity to go to third level education when we left school. Kate later worked with a company in Bandon which offered a scheme funding degree courses at UCC. Through this scheme, she completed an Arts degree as a night student and graduated in 1990. Tony’s further education came through the British Army where he was an Engineer.

How has UCC played a part in your lives?

Beyond Kate’s degree, Tony became involved on discovering the wealth of opportunity the college offered through engagement with the Parkinson's Disease Research Cluster and Tyndall National Institute. We spearheaded the seed funding of a local mapping project to identify the services available and the gaps experienced by those living with Parkinson’s in Cork. This led to the health research council getting involved and their funding enabled UCC to take the project nationwide. This became the first ever mapping project for people with Parkinson’s in Ireland.  

We initiated a survey on the link between Parkinson’s, Pesticides and Farming and part of this was carried out at the national ploughing championships in 2023. This follows on research carried out by Dr Bas Bloem, world renowned Dutch neurologist.

We also work with the Tyndall Institute testing their wearable technology used for monitoring and assisting people with Parkinson’s.

Why have you decided to support Parkinson’s research at UCC in your will?

It is over 200 years since Parkinson’s disease was formally named as a condition and there still is no cure. Since then very little advance has been made in the treatment of the disease and we are still using medication developed in the early 1970s. We need to get better at diagnosing the condition, identifying the causes and finding a cure, not just for Parkinson’s but for other neurological conditions.

What does leaving this legacy mean to you personally?

It’s unlikely that a cure for Parkinson’s will be found imminently or that a potential cure would be successful for the later stages of the disease. However, it would be good to leave the planet knowing that we may have helped advance treatment for those coming after us.

What kind of difference do you hope your gift will make?

Seed funding attracts other funding. We are hoping that our contribution will inspire young researchers to get involved in the neurological field and be instrumental in finding a pathway to a cure.

How do you feel when you think about the long-term impact of your gift?

It is the gift of hope and the spark that ignites curiosity in this field of research.

What would you say to others who might be considering a legacy gift for UCC?

Leaving a gift for UCC has the potential to change many lives whether it is offering a bursary for students who would not have the financial means of achieving 3rd level education or contributing to research to find life changing cures for chronic disease. It is easy to do and very rewarding.

What are your interests outside of your connection to UCC?

Tony is a big rugby fan and has made many trips the Dáil to raise awareness of the lack of support and services for people with neurological conditions. Kate is involved in other voluntary organisations, loves languages, and is constantly looking for someone to practice with when she isn’t line dancing.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about you or your journey?

The secret of happiness is knowing when you are happy.

If you would like to discuss a gift for UCC in your will, please fill out this short interest form or contact foundation@ucc.ie or call +353 (0)21 420 5942.