Home   News   Article

Woman tackling Brodie and Culbin six mile Walk for Parkinson's event in memory of late Highland councillor father Hamish Wood


By Lewis McBlane

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

A WOMAN is joining a Walk for Parkinson's event near Forres to commemorate her councillor late father.

Kirsteen Wood is taking on the walk with her dog Hamish.
Kirsteen Wood is taking on the walk with her dog Hamish.

Inverness woman Kirsteen Wood (43) is taking on the six mile walk with her dog Harris for the second time, which will take her around Brodie Castle and Culbin Forest, to raise money to tackle Parkinson's.

Kirsteen's late father Hamish Wood, who passed away last year after a nine year battle with the condition last October, had a big presence in the north of Scotland.

She said: "He was well-known for taking part in events and he was on lots of different boards.

"He would cycle around his ward so was well known in Inverness.

"He was a buddhist as well and was instrumental in getting the Dalai Lama to Inverness."

Hamish represented the Aird and Loch Ness ward on Highland Council for ten years from 2007-2017 and was a former assistant principal at Inverness College UHI.

Active in voluntary organisations, including Samaritans, he was also a champion for Fair Trade and cycling.

Parkinson’s Disease happens when the brain cells that make dopamine start to die. There are over 40 symptoms, from tremors and pain to anxiety.

Taking part in the walk to honour her dad for the second time, Kirsteen said: "I love Culbin Forest, it's quite close to where I live and I've been there a few times.

"I took part in the 2019 walk. It was really good. It was a really nice day as well so everyone really enjoyed themselves and there was a really nice atmosphere.

"I would definitely recommend it to other people, whether that be with friends, family or by yourself.

"I think it's really important to keep fundraising and keep the message about Parkinson's out there because I think a lot of people don't fully understand what Parkinson's is and it can be misunderstood as being something completely different."

Late Highland councillor Hamish Wood, who passed away after a nine year Parkinson's battle.
Late Highland councillor Hamish Wood, who passed away after a nine year Parkinson's battle.

Every week about 30 people in Scotland are told they have Parkinson's.

About 12,400 people in Scotland have Parkinson’s - which is around one in every 375 adults.

Marion Pirrie, Parkinson's UK regional fundraiser for east of Scotland, said: “It will be great to see Kirsteen and Harris return to Brodie Castle along with others for the first time since 2019.

“We are really excited to once again walk the grounds of Culbin Forest and are so grateful for Kirsteen choosing to do so to help raise awareness of Parkinson’s in memory of her dad.”

The money raised by Walk for Parkinson’s will help fund work by Parkinson’s UK’s, which aims to transform the lives of people with Parkinson’s and their loved ones.

You can sign up to walk 1 mile or take on 6 miles. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a lead.

Click here for more information about Walk for Parkinson's.

Registrations close on Sunday, September 4 2022.



Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More