ON Saturday I opened the Parkinson's Disease Society spring fete at Nynehead Court near Wellington.
I have direct experience of Parkinson's Disease, which effects over 100,000 people in Britain.
My Dad – who is only 61 – was diagnosed with the condition almost fifteen years ago.
It has an appalling impact on sufferers, and causes huge emotional and practical difficulties for their spouses and families.
There are a number of dreadful medical conditions that can strike people down, including Motor Neurone Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.
I am not a scientist, so I will not discover a cure for these illnesses, but as a politician I can do two things.
Firstly, it is important to raise care standards for people with life-changing illnesses like Parkinson's Disease, and I am involved in a cross-party Parliamentary inquiry to recommend improvements.
And secondly, I am committed to supporting innovative scientific research to find a cure. This can be controversial, but I firmly believe that we have a duty to give hope to the sufferers of appalling illnesses.
This is the great new frontier in medicine.
Just imagine if, in this era, we could find a cure, so future generations would look back in awe and gratitude at our progress, just like we celebrate the medical pioneers who tackled previous killer illnesses.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here