Meet North East Parkies United: Ritchie Dunning

Two years ago, we caught up with Ritchie Dunning ahead of World Parkinson’s Day and the now 47-year-old still attends the Neurological Walking Football session weekly and forms a key part of North East Parkies United.

The avid Sunderland supporter had his own world turned upside down aged 37 following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.

Speaking in 2023, Ritchie revealed his symptoms started before his shock diagnosis, but after worsening and having more impact on day-to-day life, he started to seek answers.

“My symptoms started a couple of years before I was diagnosed,” he said.

“Now I’m well into my journey since my symptoms started and I’ve managed quite well active wise, but at the beginning of this year, I started to really feel what Parkinson’s is all about. I’ve had to take medication for it is which is really helpful.”

Recalling how he got involved in the programme, Ritchie added: “I saw an advert for Parkinson’s Walking Football so I wanted to come and support the event and get involved because I actually play walking football for a Yorkshire based team. I’m also a member of the first ever England Parkinson’s Walking Football Team.

“After the sessions finish, we have a general chit-chat, talk about how the session went and how we’re feeling generally.

“It’s just a nice social side to things and you start connecting more with people. It’s nice being around like-minded people and it doesn’t matter what your symptoms are, you’re just accepted as you are, and no-one is looking at you.”

Ritchie was always an advocate for the sessions and the benefits they could provide in managing symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, often encouraging anyone he would meet to come along and give it a try.

"These sessions are amazing. For a start, it’s exercise and exercise is key for people with Parkinson’s,” he said.

“Making new friends is big in the Parkinson’s community and hopefully these sessions will benefit everyone and hopefully we can start to get more numbers coming along.”

Since Ritchie caught up with us, the number of regular attendees has risen to 15 and the first North East-based Parkinson’s Walking Football club, North East Parkies United, has been founded by members of the session.

Hartlepool-based Ritchie, who previously travelled to Yorkshire to represent a competitive team, will now compete with the North East side, and his prior experience in competitive walking football will be key to his teammates.