THE BOOK
A personal account of Guy’s life story and his adventures driving down through Africa with Parkinson’s Disease.
To buy “Running on Empty” click on the image below:
'An immense feat of endurance, a remarkable achievement, and a truly inspirational adventure filled with courage and hope' – Sir Ranulph Fiennes
‘An extraordinary, challenging journey of perseverance and dedication with an important mission to raise awareness of Parkinson's disease. This was not merely a physical journey, but a testament to the power of the human spirit to triumph over adversity – Guy is a true inspiration.’ – Levison Wood, writer, photographer and explorer
At the age of sixty, and having lived with Parkinson’s disease for over ten years, Guy Deacon CBE set out on one last adventure: to drive solo from his home in the UK 18,000 miles and through twenty-five countries to Cape Town on the southern tip of Africa. This incredible journey, across Europe and down the full length of Africa, took the former British Army officer over twelve months. Along the way, he broke down five times, underwent one emergency evacuation, and took 3,650 prescription pills.
There are only a handful of vehicles each year which attempt this difficult journey; many never complete it. Ongoing conflicts in Libya, South Sudan, Mozambique and many other countries make any journey exceptionally dangerous. In central Africa, road conditions, particularly in the rainy season, often make the going treacherous. Further hazards include illegal checkpoints, extortion, contaminated fuel and a lack of services.
Guy drove, lived and slept in his VW Transporter, often in remote spots, hundreds of miles from the nearest village or town. Reliant on patchy GPS, he often got lost. His journey was, quite simply, an incredible feat by a man travelling alone with Stage 3 Parkinson’s disease, when simply putting on a pair of shoes can take half an hour.
But not only did Guy’s journey fulfil a childhood dream to drive the length of Africa, his mission was also to raise global awareness of Parkinson’s disease, for which there is currently still no cure.
If you would like to order multiple copies of "Running on Empty", please e-mail us at: tania.deacon1@gmail.com.
This is the story of one man’s courage and determination to make a difference to those suffering with Parkinson’s be it at home or abroad. This autobiography opens the door onto Guy’s life journey over the past 60 years. Early days are Illustrated with some lighthearted stories from school and university and by various anecdotes drawn from his long and distinguished career in the army. They serve as a spotlight on this remarkable man, helping to define his character and personality and illustrate what motivates, inspires and drives him. All of this as a valuable prelude and backdrop to the day when Guy, aged 50, goes to hospital for some routine tests only to be told that he is suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
The real substance to the book is Guy’s remarkable life journey post diagnosis. It tracks his remaining years in the army and his decision, despite ever worsening health, to attempt a solo overland journey from his home town in Dorset through Europe and down the west coast of Africa to Cape Town, as a means of raising funds and awareness of Parkinson’s disease. Guy talks openly about the difficulties and frustrations of living with this debilitating condition, something that all Parkinson’s sufferers have to endure. In particular, he highlights the plight of Parkinson’s sufferers in Africa where so many are shunned by their families and communities who believe the illness to be either a contagious disease or the work of black magic. Guy makes it his mission dispel this myth with countless TV and radio interviews across Africa, while also meeting up with numerous Parkinson’s sufferers and those individuals trying to help improve their situation. They share with him tales that are heartbreaking, humbling, uplifting and extraordinary.
The book moves constantly, taking the reader from the sands of the Sahara to the traffic-filled streets of Lagos, from the forests of Gabon to the gravel plains of Namibia, and there are countries along the way that some readers may never have heard about. Mishaps happen; and they are all too frequent. But, throughout his travels, Guy also experiences extraordinary kindness. Ultimately this book is far more than a fascinating travelogue. It's revealing of the mental journey that Parkinson’s sets in motion with, in Guy’s case, moments of soaring highs and bleak lows.
A truly inspiring, entertaining, uplifting and educational read, Guy remains fully committed to those few who do so much with so little. All proceeds from his book will be shared among the different Parkinson’s charities through The Deacon Foundation.
50% of the book cost goes direct to The Deacon Foundation. Proceeds will be channelled to other Parkinson’s charities and places where small grants will make a huge impact.
We know that Parkinson’s is a straightforward neurological condition, and if we tell everybody in Africa that this is the case, the provision of care by family members and professionals and the subsequent treatment and professional care will improve dramatically. it does not cost very much money to raise awareness and change people’s attitudes to the disease, but it does take some. What it does take is dedicated people in their own communities with a thorough understanding of the condition.
But they need support. Small things such as taxi rides, booking village halls, paying for speakers to run education sessions need to be paid for. And as often as not the most effective mentors who do so much to raise awareness at the lowest levels, have the least resources available to help them.
During my travels, I met some extraordinary people who are changing people’s lives for the better with almost no help at all. Just small sums of money will make their work so much more effective. This is why the proceeds from the book “Running on Empty” will be channelled to places where small grants will make a huge impact.
How to buy the book:
Click on image above of Guy to buy the book on-line.
Send a cheque made payable to The Deacon Foundation to Kenley House, Chetnole, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6NY with your name and address on the back.
Direct Debit to The Deacon Foundation (Sort code: 30-99-50 - Account No: 28302963) and send an e-mail with your name and address to tania.deacon1@gmail.com.
The cost to you is the RRP of £9.99 + £2.70 P&P.
If you would like to purchase multiple copies, please contact us at: tania.deacon1@gmail.com.