A Whitehaven councillor is pushing for change in a bid to raise awareness of the "forgotten disease" from which he suffers.

John Kane, 64, was diagnosed with Parkinson's 11 years ago. He is now a volunteer educator for the charity, Parkinson's UK, and works with local care homes to help increase understanding of the condition and improve care for those who are affected.

John, who represents Kells on Copeland Council, has been shocked by the number of people being diagnosed. He says there are around 2,500 people living with the condition in Cumbria.

"It's the fastest growing neurological condition. I didn't realise how much it was increasing. I was shocked," John said. "It's just a forgotten condition. People don't realise how many are affected and the impact of it."

The latest research from Parkinson's UK shows that the number of people diagnosed and living with the condition is increasing, due to a growing and ageing population.

Caused by a deficiency in dopamine – the chemical that controls everything about the body’s movement – Parkinson’s can affect how a person moves, laughs, smiles, cries and talks.

John first noticed changes to his hand-eye co-ordination during a Blackpool darts final in 2004. A keen player, he became inconsistent and started to struggle.

His symptoms continued, with tiredness, restlessness and loss of strength. After being diagnosed with the disease in 2008, he made the decision to give up his job at Sellafield because he didn't want to deteriorate in front of his colleagues.

John says his condition has worsened over the years and he now has a tremor - a common symptoms in people with Parkinson's.

He is considering having deep brain stimulation - a surgery which implants a device that sends electrical signals to brain areas responsible for body movement. It can help reduce the symptoms of tremor, slowness, stiffness, and walking problems.

Despite his struggles, John continues to help others in his role as a councillor and as chairman of the West Cumbria branch of Parkinson’s UK, which now has 350 members. He also enjoys spending quality time with his three grandchildren.

"I always tell people it's life-long, not life threatening. I just think we need to start pushing and raising the profile."