As PingPongParkinson turns one, PL talks to president Helen Halford about its growth
Every week, the PCYC greets a group of people who play table tennis. While at first glance they seem unremarkable, albeit a bit of an older crowd, what’s remarkable is that they have Parkinsons.
PingPongParkinson (PPP) intertwines the unique benefits of table tennis with the importance of community in slowing down the progression of Parkinson’s disease. The movement, established in 2017 by Croatian American musician Nenad Bach, has reached 30 countries, including the PCYC on our very own Northern Beaches.
In 2024, Helen Halford first became aware of PPP, reaching out to Nenad, determined to bring the concept to Australia. Originally from Queensland, Helen started her chapter with PPP in Harvey Bay, which was a great success.
Helen, who was familiar with the Beaches as she often visits her Manly-based sister, wrote to PCYC in Dee Why, hoping to start a PPP group there.
“We’ve been doing it since May last year, and we had these wonderful volunteers who have been building this little community of about 10 to 20 people who come every week, and they all love it.”
Helen is the president of PPP and says the community has grown over the year, with family members and staff there to support. “All four tables were full of doubles playing, and we’ve had to increase our sessions due to the amount of people who have joined.”
In NSW, there are approximately 70,000 people who are affected by Parkinsons, a number projected to double by 2040. Parkinson’s condition gradually diminishes motivation and mood because of the lower dopamine, but PPP has seen its participants laughing with huge smiles in experiencing the playfulness of the sport. While physically it enhances hand-eye coordination and promotes better motor control, PPP manages to have a strong emotional effect on its players too.
“I’ve witnessed people who think they can’t play, and within 20 minutes they’re hitting back unreturnable shots to me from all around the table. It’s personal support, but it’s also seeing other people do well.”
For Helen, the volunteers at PPP have also been positively affected by being part of the group. “Our main volunteer Robert has become very compassionate and involved in this community, and he’s part of this transformation, as well as contributing to the bigger picture.”
Helen is excited to see more of these local chapters take place on the Northern Beaches and in Sydney, expanding it to make it more accessible to those affected by the condition. There are currently groups which meet at Forestville Memorial Hall on Thursday evenings, Dee Why PCYC on Wednesday mornings, and Manly Vale Community Centre on Saturday afternoons.
All sessions range between $5 and $7.
To find out more about the PPP chapters on the Northern Beaches, visit pingpongparkinson.org or contact Helen helen@pingpongparkinson.org