Parkinson's UK and EXCELR8 Motorsport: Driving Awareness for Parkinson's

Client: Parkinson's UK

Engines roar and cameras click. Powerful racing cars tear on to the track as journalists and fans swarm the circuit. The energy is electric as anticipation builds at the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championships.The grid girls arrive on track, carrying placards to mark the drivers starting positions.

But this year, something is different. Flashes of blue appear as Parkinson’s UK staff and people living with Parkinson’s appear on the grid. Sporting their blue Parkinson’s UK kit, they take over the job of the grid girls. This continued for 10 weeks of the racing season during 2024 at motor racing circuits across the country, as part of a unique partnership between Parkinson’s UK and EXCELR8 Motorsport Team.

Motivated by his personal experience of his dad being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, driver Dan Zelos initiated the partnership. His goal was to do whatever he could to support Parkinson’s UK and recognised he could leverage the huge platform provided during race season, with people with Parkinson’s taking centre-stage on the grid.

But this was just the start. The partnership went on to deliver a series of activities resulting in a huge impact for people living with Parkinson’s and their families.