A Southwell woman living with Parkinson’s has been selected to represent the England Women’s Walking Football Parkinson’s team in Canada in September.

Chris Stanley was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in March 2018 and is part of the Parkinson’s Pioneers, the UK’s only all-female Parkinson’s walking football team. Since joining the club 18-months ago, Chris has participated in national and international tournaments against some of the world’s best walking footballers.

Chris will join fellow players from the Parkinson’s Pioneers, as well as other walking footballers from the UK Parkinson’s community for a special walking football festival in Toronto on Thursday 17 September.

Two squads from the Parkinson’s England Walking Football Association will travel to Toronto for the festival against Parkinson’s United FC, the Canadian national Parkinson’s team.

The free event marks the launch of Parkinson’s United, celebrating the international friendship between English and Canadian walking football teams, and aims to raise awareness of the benefits of walking football for people living with Parkinson’s.

As a retired PE teacher, Chris has been a long-term advocate for the benefits of physical activity and wellbeing. Since her Parkinson’s diagnosis, she has supported many people living with the condition to get active through her local network of Nordic walking classes, which have been supported by British Nordic Walking and Parkinson’s UK.

Following a successful trial earlier in the year, Chris has now been selected to represent the very first England Women’s Walking Football team in Toronto.

To help her reach the walking football festival, Chris has been supported by donations from Nottingham Parkinson’s UK branch and members of the young-onset Trent Bridge Parkinson’s community. The funds have been raised in recognition of Chris’s work with the local Parkinson’s community in recent years.

Walking football can have many benefits for people living with Parkinson’s and it is hoped that the new event will help raise more awareness of the physical and social impact of the sport for people living with the condition.

Speaking about the England call-up, Chris said: “I was honoured to be asked to attend the recent walking football trials and I’m so proud to be able to represent the new England Women’s team in Toronto.

“When you are diagnosed with Parkinson’s you can often lose your confidence in many areas and the self belief that you can do certain activities.

“Being active has not only helped me to live well with the condition, but it has also opened up so many new friendships and social connections with people who are going through the same experience as me.

“I am delighted to be part of this new squad of wonderful, strong and determined women footballers and I hope that we can raise more awareness of Parkinson’s with a new audience.”

Caroline Rassell, chief executive at Parkinson’s UK, added: “I’m delighted to see so many members of the Parkinson’s Pioneers being called up to the very first England Women’s Walking Football squad.

“As a member of the team, I’ve seen how important walking football can be in helping more women live well with Parkinson’s, and the social connections that can be made. It’s great to see that Chris Stanley has become the latest member of the team and I would like to wish the squad every success at the forthcoming event in Canada.”

Chris plays as a forward or in midfield. She said: “In 2024, I went to a taster walking football session with the Parkinson’s Pioneers ladies’ team. Having been a PE teacher for 34 years I loved it. I hadn’t played football but used transferable skills with success.

“I was very fortunate to be asked to represent the Pioneers at a tournament in Spain, then trialled for the England team and delighted to have been selected. I feel I have found my tribe. I’m humbled to be playing for the first ever ladies English team with Parkinson’s.“

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