NANCY McFaull just wants to go to the shops or on a night out, knowing she will not be cruelly stared at, judged or misunderstood.

Like many people who live with Parkinson’s disease, the 59-year-old Barrhead woman knows what it’s like to be accused of being drunk or complained at for being slow while battling a condition that is completely beyond her control.

Parkinson’s is a progressive nervous system disorder which affects movement. Around 12,500 people in Scotland have it, equivalent to around one in every 375 adults, making it the second most prevalent neuroprogressive condition after Alzheimer’s.

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Yet, despite its prevalence, the majority of people know very little about what the disease is, what symptoms it can lead to and how different the experience can be for each individual facing it.

After three long years of getting a string of different tests, Nancy was diagnosed with the illness in December 2012.

And she admits she is no stranger to people making assumptions about her.

“I have concerns about going out and going to the pub because a lot of people think you are drunk,” said Nancy, who lives with her partner Alistair Graham in St Mary’s Crescent.

“I have experienced being stopped before I’ve gone into a pub.

“The guy was really sorry when I explained but he had just made an assumption because I was going into a pub.

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“There needs to be more awareness. I’d like to see more being done to raise awareness in shops. I go to the local Asda and it’s fine but that’s only because they know me.”

While working as a software engineer for the National Savings Bank, Nancy first started experiencing symptoms when she was 49.

Despite being very active, she suddenly started struggling to use her legs properly. Over the years, this has developed into stiffness throughout her body, making it a struggle to get about.

Nancy, who retired about two years ago, added: “I used to go to Zumba and I did hillwalking. At one point, I had to stop in the middle of a class because my legs just weren’t working.

“It’s mainly my mobility I struggle with, as I get a lot of stiffness. I sometimes do get a bit of a shake in my left arm too. When I’m going out for a meal, people often don’t realise that, if I don’t have a chair with arms, I can’t get up. I struggle if chairs are too low.

“If I’m sat for a while, I need to get up and walk about every so often. Getting on and off public transport can also be difficult.”

Nancy attends the Glasgow Young Onset Group, which sees people facing the illness meet every month in the city to discuss their experiences and seek support.

She admits that, while she has been irritated by other people’s judgements, she actually made some of her own after she was diagnosed.

Nancy recalled: “When I was diagnosed it was a relief but I was also devastated.

“My thoughts at the time were that people with Parkinson’s were old and infirm.

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“When I started going to the support group in Glasgow, I realised this wasn’t always the case.

“That’s the biggest misunderstanding, I think. People think this illness only affects old people or they think it’s just about having a shaky arm.

“A lot of my problem is stiffness and I also have trouble sleeping. I can be awake a lot of the night.”

On the back of discovering stories like Nancy’s, Parkinson’s UK Scotland has stepped up its effort to kick out prejudice towards people with this serious condition by launching the Parkinson’s Is campaign.

Nancy is right behind the drive to build greater understanding about the illness.

And more than 70 landmarks across Scotland, including the likes of the Kelpies, were lit up blue last month to mark World Parkinson’s Day in a bid to bring the condition to the front of people’s minds.

Annie Macleod, director of Parkinson’s UK Scotland, said: “We were delighted that so many places showed their support for the Parkinson’s community by lighting in blue for World Parkinson’s Day.

“Whether a national landmark or a local church, we thank them all for their support.

“People with Parkinson’s and their families can often feel isolated, so it means a lot to the community to know there are so many people who care and are aware of the condition.”