Parkinson's athlete still running

Dave was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease 10 years ago

Dave Eastman is an active member of the Cambridge Triathlon Club, despite being told he had Parkinson's Disease 10 years ago.

The 62-year-old can sometimes struggle to walk down a corridor but has no problem swimming, cycling and running.

Dave has been using the sport to raise money for research into Parkinson's, an illness he is determined to beat.

"I do love a challenge," he said. "But the biggest challenge is the one I'm facing at the moment."

I go from super athleticism to crawling to the bathroom Dave Eastman

Triathlons are a great test of human endurance as they include three different sports; running, cycling and swimming.

Dave was a keen triathlete before the onset of his illness, regularly competing the Cambridge Triathlon which includes a 0.9 mile (1.5km) swim, a 24.8 mile (40km) cycle and a 6.2 mile (10km) run.

The shed at the end of his garden in Buntingford is littered with photos, newspaper articles and medals, which are testament to an incredible life which changed dramatically when he became ill.

It was while he was working as a traffic handler at Stansted Airport that it became apparent he was not fully fit.

He said: "I ripped a shoulder muscle out, which I didn't really think anything of. I was left with a slight tremor in my thumb.

"My GP referred me to a neurologist who told me, quite curtly, that I had Parkinson's."

Doing any kind of physical activity became a distant hope for Dave who, by 2002, was chair-bound.

Fortunately, with time and help from his doctors, Dave was able to find the right cocktail of drugs to stabilise his condition.

Crawling

Most would be content with simply being able to walk to the shops again, but Dave was determined to get back to his athletic ways.

He said: "Someone said to me, 'If you could get fit again what would you do?' Most people say mow the lawn or do the wallpapering. I said I want to do triathlons again.

"To start with I was in denial. I've met people since who are in denial. The disease affects me in a way where I go from super athleticism to crawling to the bathroom."

By 2003 he was back in his trainers ready to do the Ipswich triathlon and hasn't looked back since.

"I find running more comfortable than walking. When I'm not medicated it's very difficult to move around without staggering or falling. The brain and the arms work, but the legs just will not move."

Trotter, as Dave is known by his friends, has developed tricks such as counting each individual step or focusing on a target further ahead.

Warts and all

Having just completed the Cambridge Any Old Iron Man challenge to raise money for the Parkinson's Disease Society Dave is ready to test himself further.

The Any Old Iron Man event saw him and his club mates each complete a swim of 2.4 miles (3.8km), a cycle of 112 miles (180.2km) and a run of 26.2 miles (42.1km) during May this year to raise money for the charity.

Now Dave has been nominated for a local sport award and is about publish his autobiography entitled Ere Trotter Warts And All.

Just like Derek Trotter, the wheeling and dealing character from Only Fools And Horses, Dave has built his own bar.

It is hidden in his shed with his triathlon memorabilia and gym equipment, and who can blame him? He has got a lot of achievements to raise a glass to.