About us
Welcome to Shake the Fun Up, our inclusive community of active People with Parkinson's Disease.
We believe we can build a community through social activities centred around a physical, speech or cognition activity.
We are Sydney-based and hold two activities each month (subject to public holidays):
* First Wednesday morning of each month
* Last Tuesday evening of each month (changed some months due to special events)
Shake the Fun Up - Activities
We organise activities such as walking, tennis, karaoke, pub choir, pub trivia and games day. Each activity is followed by a meal (self-funded). If participants are unable to join in the main activity they are always welcome to join in for the meal.
Activities are published on our website under Activities and Calendar where you can register to participate.
Who we are
The founding members are Shiufong, Paula, David and Sue.
We met in 2022 at a Young Onset Support Group (YOSG)
meeting and became friends. Each of us, like many other
people with Parkinson’s (PWPs), were aware of the positive
impact of exercise and had integrated swimming, PD
Warrior, boxing and gym classes into our regimes of
Parkinson’s disease (PD) management. Some of us were attending these workouts together, as having a partner made us more committed to attend, yet more importantly, having a buddy to share the sweat with made workouts more enjoyable. Many times, after a joint gym class, our pain was quickly dissolved over a cup of coffee and chat.
From Paula’s observations of how PWPs liked to use the end of YOSG meetings to chat and from our own personal journeys, we decided to complement the traditional support group meeting, in which generally a speaker presents to an audience of PWPs. We wanted to incorporate activity and greater social interaction between PWPs and decided on holding events whereby each event comprised of an activity that stimulated physical, cognitive or vocal function, and follow this with an opportunity for further engagement over a lunch or dinner together.
The name Shake The Fun Up (STFU) and the three iconic symbols depicting three key areas associated with PD together embody our aim to help bring a positive mindset to s people with Parkinson’s.
Sign up to receive our newsletters and updates on activities.
The things we need to say up front:
• Shake the Fun Up is unfunded and managed by volunteers.
• Any cost associated with an activity is borne by members participating in the activity.
• Anyone participating in Shake the Fun Up activities must assess their ability to participate in the activity and does so at their own risk.
• In order to minimise internet trolls, we will ask how you heard of us and when you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. This is not intended to be intrusive in any way, but to protect those who wish to be part of this vibrant and active community
• Shake the Fun Up is not a Parkinson’s support group. Should you require information on topics such as medication, care, therapy and research, Parkinsons NSW runs support groups and hosts regular information sessions/webinars on these topics. (https://www.parkinsonsnsw.org.au)
We believe everyone can embrace who they are,
can define their future, and can change the world.