Julie Norris: Finding Strength, Community, and Joy Through Table Tennis
For Julie Norris, 15 May 2021 was a day she thought she would never forget for all the wrong reasons. At 54 years old, living in a small market town in the Northeast of England, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“I thought my world and dreams had ended,” she recalls. “How wrong I was. That day was the start of my new future.”
From a young age, Julie was always active—playing hockey, swimming, rugby, football, cricket, netball, and more. Outside of sport, she enjoys reading, silent book clubs, and riding her motorbike across the moors and to the coast. Her personal motto sums up her resilience: “It’s my life, not Parkinson’s.”
Rediscovering Table Tennis
In June 2024, 38 years after last picking up a racket at school, Julie rediscovered table tennis. What began as a casual reintroduction quickly grew into a passion. Welcomed into her local Parkinson’s table tennis club, founded by Lynn Tearse and Kenneth Booth, she soon began playing up to three times a week.
“Taking up the sport has given me a sense of worth,” Julie says. “It reminds me that I can do normal things, and that Parkinson’s won’t stop me because I’ll always find a way.”
Alongside table tennis, Julie also plays walking football and swims regularly. The impact on her well-being has been profound:
“I’m emotionally happier, physically fitter, and socially I don’t feel any different. Before, I used to hide my symptoms. But now I can be as ‘Parky’ as I like, and my teammates don’t judge me.”
From Local Club to International Stage
Julie’s proactive spirit soon connected her with the ITTF Foundation’s initiatives. Within weeks of joining her club, she heard about the 2024 World Table Tennis for Health Festival in Metz, France. Despite her nerves, she seized the opportunity.
“Competing in Metz was nerve-racking and inspiring at the same time,” she reflects. “Watching ‘Parkies’ like me having fun, connecting with others, and sharing our stories was incredible. To be around people like me, living with Parkinson’s, was a relief because I could be myself and not have to hide my symptoms. We laughed, we cried, and the power of having no barriers has been life-changing for me.”
Julie also embraced the role of World Table Tennis Day 2025 Promoter, organising events that united disability groups, her Parkinson’s club, and children from local schools in deprived areas. In the morning, she coordinated games linking different groups; in the afternoon, she played with 100 children, making sure each child left with their very own table tennis racket.
“The photographs say it all,” she smiles. “The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and that joy was unforgettable.”
Sharing the Gift of Community
For Julie, table tennis is about more than sport—it is about community and belonging. After retiring from her beloved career as a deputy head teacher due to health reasons, table tennis filled an important gap in her life.
“It has given me ‘ME’ back,” she explains. “It helps me stay physically fit, and the groups I play with help me stay mentally fit. Invaluable.”
Her motivation to keep promoting the sport comes from a desire to share these benefits with others: “Being part of a TT group is being part of a community, and I want to share what I have got from table tennis with others.”
Julie’s Message to Supporters
Julie is clear about the importance of the ITTF Foundation’s initiatives such as the Health Festival and World Table Tennis Day:
“Without these initiatives, people from deprived areas and countries wouldn’t discover the benefits of table tennis or the joy and happiness that come from being part of a community. These events are often the only time people leave their house or meet others like them. You need to experience them to truly appreciate how much difference they make to so many people around the world.”
From rediscovering a childhood pastime to competing internationally and inspiring her community, Julie’s journey shows how table tennis can transform lives. For her, Parkinson’s is not an ending but a beginning. It's a chance to find new strength, friendships, and joy through the simple, powerful game of table tennis.