A TEACHING assistant diagnosed with Parkinson's at the age of just 42 has raised £8,100 for research into finding a cure for the nervous system disease and to set an example to her children.

Leah Forster, of Romanby, Northallerton, said she was also campaigning to raise awareness of how younger people can be affected by progressive disease, despite the average age of diagnosis being 62.

Mrs Forster said she had noticed a weakness in her left side while teaching at Brompton Primary School last year and within a few months, after scans at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, had been diagnosed with the disease.

She said: "My symptoms were only minor. It was a big shock as I thought only old people got Parkinson's.

"At first I didn't want people to know what I had, I didn't want a fuss made."

About two per cent of people with the disease are thought to be aged 40 or under, but as Parkinson's is often overlooked as a diagnosis in younger patients, it is thought the number of young-onset cases may be higher.

She said as she strived to come to terms with having the disease and her husband, Andrew, and sons Owen, 17 and Reuben, 12, took on extra domestic duties to help her, she decided to stage an event in an attempt to raise £500 for Parkinson's UK.

She said: "I have an example to set to two sons that there are people far worse off than me."

Mrs Forster said her event at the Trobadour, in Northallerton, featuring band Gold Sands, an auction and a raffle, sold out, raising £8,100.

She said: "We sold 400 tickets, but we could have sold double that, so I am planning on doing it again next year.

"I have not only been surprised by the amount of money raised, but by the kind things people have said.

"This is something positive to tell the neurologist, he will be pleased to see how much impact everyone who helped raise this fantastic amount has made on my wellbeing."

Chrissie Fielden, regional fundraiser for Parkinson's UK, said: "Leah has been a complete inspiration to us all.

"My thanks to the people of Northallerton who came out in force to support Leah's first fundraising event and make it such a success on so many levels."