If you were in attendance at Middlesbrough’s final pre-season fixture, you may have witnessed a half-time interview between BBC Tees’ Gary Phillipson and someone we’re immensely proud of.
For Foundation participant Julie Norris, the Espanyol game wasn’t the first time she had graced the pitch at the Riverside Stadium. Back in March, she was part of our Neurological Football group, which was given the opportunity to take half-time penalties as part of the 2025/26 Foundation game.
Since 2021, Julie has been living with Parkinson’s disease, a worsening long-term brain condition that impacts a person's ability to control body movements.
“When I was diagnosed, I burst into tears. I got in the car and thought, ‘What is Parkinson's? I haven't got a clue.’ I went home and told my husband. Of course he was upset, and the children were upset too.
“After that, I was determined to use it for a purpose. I've got it, it's not going to change and it's not going to go away. It's going to get worse, so I might as well use myself in whatever way helps other people in the future.”
A keen lover of sport in her younger years, Julie represented the county at hockey as well as competing in university rugby and athletics.
But those activities were pushed to the side upon graduation as her focus shifted to her career, marriage and children.
While all those pursuits are admirable, Julie admits the Parkinson’s diagnosis has given her a new lease of life.
“When I got Parkinson's and went along to a table tennis group, I realised through the newsletter that there were other opportunities out there. Suddenly it was, ‘Yes, I can start playing football again. I can start playing table tennis for the first time ever.’
“It's just spiralled from there. I've got myself back. I've got Julie the sports person back again. I'd lost her for more than 30 years, and to have her back now - I'm loving it, absolutely loving it. I'm grabbing every opportunity I can.
“My husband says I've got the twinkle back in my eye. He says he's got his Julie back, and I believe him. My family are just in awe. They love the smile on my face and my positive attitude.”
Starting off by attending walking football sessions at Stokesley, Julie was then invited to play for the sole women’s walking football team in existence, Parkinson’s Pioneers in Solihull, three years ago.
Last September, she was recommended to attend trials to represent England. In which she was successful. Now Julie is set to cross the Atlantic Ocean to feature for Parkinson’s England in their Walking Football tour of Canada.
“The WFA [Walking Football Association] has organised a tour to Toronto, Canada. The England men's and women's Parkinson's teams are travelling together to play matches against local teams and raise awareness of Parkinson's.
“We've got matches on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, a rest day on Wednesday, then Parkinson's awareness activities on Friday before coming home.
“I'm fortunate that I can self-fund part of the trip, but we still need flights, hotels and spending money, and some members of the team aren't in the same position.
“Fundraising means everyone can go, and everyone can be involved equally. That’s what it’s all about.”
Support Julie's fundraising campaign here.