A Fife businessman is preparing to take on the Edinburgh Marathon this Sunday (24th May) to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK and Parkinson’s UK in Scotland — after already raising thousands of pounds in memory of his father.

Jim Parker has made it his mission to support the fight against Parkinson’s following the death of his father just over two years ago after a long battle with the disease.

Since December 2025, Jim has already raised more than £4,500 climbing Kilimanjaro, followed by a further £3,163 from running the London Marathon in April. He has currently raised £575 for the Edinburgh Marathon, taking his overall fundraising total to more than £8,200 so far. Now, his goal is to break the £10,000 mark!

“Watching someone you love slowly deteriorate from Parkinson’s over many years is something that never leaves you,” Jim said.

“It’s a cruel and progressive disease that affects not only the individual but entire families. Running these challenges is my way of trying to do something positive and help support the search for a cure.”

Parkinson’s currently affects around 166,000 people in the UK, with someone diagnosed every 20 minutes. Despite this, there is still no cure.

Jim hopes his fundraising efforts will help raise both awareness and vital funding for research and support services.

“We need to find a cure, and funding research is essential if we’re going to get there quicker,” he added.

“Parkinson’s UK and Parkinson’s UK in Scotland provide incredible support for people living with the condition and their families, while also funding vital research into treatments and, hopefully one day, a cure.”

Jim will take on the Edinburgh Marathon this Sunday as part of his continuing fundraising campaign.

Anyone wishing to support his efforts can donate here:

👉 https://events.parkinsons.org.uk/fundraiser/jimparker/edinburgh-marathon-festival-2026