World’s Toughest Drive: An Interview with Guy Deacon

Recently, Channel 4 premiered a documentary which followed Guy Deacon CBE, as he travelled through Africa to raise awareness of Parkinson’s Disease.

Guy Deacon is a former Army Officer who set off on this solo adventure of 12 months whilst suffering from Stage Three Parkinson’s Disease.

The Boar spoke to Deacon about the trials, teachings and tribulations of his journey.

One of Deacon’s main ambitions has always been to “provoke discussion and raise awareness about Parkinson’s”. Therefore, he made sure that his route went “through places where Parkinson’s is little known or understood”.

It was visiting these locations that led him to interact with locals who had, or had family members with, Parkinson’s. Many vulnerable conversations took place throughout the documentary in which individuals shared their experiences. They spoke of people believing that the disease is “contagious” or that they are “cursed by witchcraft”. Deacon’s aim was to “tell people the truth” about the disease to eliminate these falsehoods and improve the access that there is to treatments.

Deacon was also taught lessons throughout his journey

As well as teaching others about Parkinson’s, Deacon was also taught lessons throughout his journey. He spoke to a French anthropologist, Hugues Obiang Poitevin, who studies Gabonese forest medicines and was taught about the core ingredients of the drug ibogaine which has spiritual significance to forest dwellers. He was offered some of the drug by the forest Ngangas (spiritual healers) and is now even more convinced that “natural remedies” should also be explored when it comes to Parkinson’s instead of depending “solely upon chemical solutions supplied by the big pharmaceutical corporations”.

This drive through Africa was extremely difficult for Deacon and he encountered numerous challenges. He said that “some of the toughest times” happened when he had forgotten to take his medication on time or “during stressful negotiations at one of the border crossings”. Parkinson’s can be triggered by stress and Deacon said that the combination of the disease and stress makes it “hard to think clearly”. Sometimes, when it was the most difficult, he “would just lie on the ground – sometimes for a couple of hours – until it passed”.

The car that Deacon drove through Africa was a “VW” which was a further “challenge” as occasionally parts of the car broke, and they were “almost impossible to come by”.

During the challenging moments, Deacon reminded himself that “nothing can be too much worse than Parkinson’s”. He also valued “a video message of encouragement, strength, love and support” from his family which was shown during his appearance on the French language Cimidi programme in the Ivory Coast.

These carers’ “love, strength and support” makes all the difference

It was also these challenging moments that taught Deacon an incredibly valuable lesson; to not be embarrassed by his Parkinson’s. He learnt to ask for help when needed with less shame.

The programme aims to inform people of the reality of Parkinson’s and Deacon hopes that it provided information for those with the disease. He hopes that it motivates “people to keep living life normally” as if he could take on this challenge, “anyone can do anything”.

Deacon also expressed great gratitude for those who “care for loved ones struggling with Parkinson’s Disease”. He called them “victims” who also “suffer” as they carry “the burden of responsibility for the wellbeing of someone else”. He believes that these carers’ “love, strength and support” makes all the difference to those with the disease.

The inspiring programme, which premiered last month, can be watched on Channel 4.