Canberran Gail Ford says she has lived a fortunate life.

An educator and communicator with a passion to explore the world, she led study tours to Russia for Australian students from the late 80s until the 2010s.

Recalling those adventures today, she still exudes a passion and a razor-sharp intelligence.

But she is also very open about what Parkinson's disease has stolen from her more recently.

"The first sign I had Parkinson's was my handwriting. Now it's totally illegible."

she said.

Her voice has also been reduced to just above a whisper — another of the many consequences of the disease.

"Communication was very important and now I can't communicate," she said.

Over the more than 20 years that Gail has lived with Parkinson's, it has steadily and determinedly stripped away her abil

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