They are all 30 and all have a mum with Parkinson's disease. But their mums are, of course, more than their illness and an inspiration to their daughters.
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"My mum is pretty cool. She's awesome," Emma Lawrence-Tait said, of mum Lindy. "The humour has helped get us through."
"She's strong," Amy Peacock said, looking at mum Jennifer Harkness.
Jessica Stortz has one word for her mother Gail: "Determined".
They will all be participating in this year's A Walk in the Park to raise money for Parkinson's ACT, the usual 1.5km walk, roll or stroll extended to a 5km bridge to bridge fun run or walk around Lake Burley Griffin, as well as a timed Nordic walk race. It all starts from Rond Terrace at 9.30am on Sunday, October 20.
The mums have been living with Parkinson's, a degenerative neurological condition for years, but often shielded their children from any fears or concerns they had about it.
"The first time mum really broke down to me about having Parkinson's was last week," Amy said. "She was worried about her future. She's worried that we will have to look after her or we'll shove in her a home, which would never happen. She said, 'I'm alone' but I told her, 'You're not alone'."
Jennifer Hawkins, 53, was diagnosed with Parkinson's when she was 48. She is working in the public service and is keen to live an active life.
"As soon as someone finds out you have an illness, they see you as that illness, not a person. We are still productive," she said.
"And staying in the workforce as long as I can is important because we're a single-income household with a mortgage."
Parkinson's affects the brain's ability to control movement and mood and usually presents as slowness of movement, muscle rigidity, instability, tremor, depression and anxiety.
In Australia, it affects around 110,000 people, with 37 being diagnosed every day. There is no cure but medication, therapies and exercise can hell control the symptoms. The women say fatigue is a big problem. And a stiffness and shortness of movement. They can be overwhelmed by too much stimulation. Some have tremors; others do not. Some have lost their sense of smell.
Lindy Lawrence, 56, had symptoms of Parkinson's from 37 and was diagnosed at 44.
"It started with a twitch in my finger and if I was emotional, it would go crazy," Lindy said. "I was at a concert and couldn't clap and thought, 'I have to do something'."
A medical receptionist, Lindy says by the end of a working day, she is wiped.
"Sometimes just putting on your glasses while you're talking to someone and not showing any pain is a challenge," she said.
There is a common misconception that Parkinson's affects only older people. Around 20 per cent of people with Parkinson's are of working age and many are diagnosed in their 30s and 40s.
Gail Stortz, 60, was 43 when she was diagnosed and her children were still young. "My son asked me, 'Are you going to die mum?' That's all they were worried about," she said.
She worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the passport office, still trying to get three children through school.
"I never had the fatigue but sometimes it was difficult to keep up with the benchmarks at work," Gail said.
Her daughter Jessica said none of them knew much about Parkinson's, initially.
It will have to grab me by the throat and drag me down because there's too much to do in life.
- Jennifer Harkness
"We thought it was old people crippled in a wheelchair and thought, 'Is mum going to be like that?'," she said.
Jennifer said she fought the disease every day. "I don't let it limit me," she said. "It will have to grab me by the throat and drag me down because there's too much to do in life."
Parkinson's ACT is a volunteer, non-profit organisation that supports people affected by Parkinson's and provides services from a community nurse to coffee catch-ups and dance therapy.
Parkinson's ACT president John Sheldrick said A Walk in the Park was its major fundraiser and reflects how exercise can keep the symptoms under control, with the theme "Keeping Moving".
There is a timed Nordic walk race as part of the day.
Kristen Pratt, who runs Capital Nordic Walking, said Nordic walking was beneficial to Parkinson's by promoting big strides and movements, balance and a positive mindset.
"We are hoping that as many people as possible can join us for this event. Grab your friends, family, work mates, even dogs are welcome, on a lead," Mr Sheldrick said.
" Enjoy a sausage sizzle, a coffee, a demonstration by our dance group The Off Beats and singing group The Bushlarks and an opportunity to buy paintings from our Painting with Parkinson's group."
If you would like to volunteer or offer sponsorship, contact actparkinsons@gmail.com
- Registrations for A Walk in the Park will open on September 1 at www.parkinsonsact.org.au.
