THE SALT PATH
The Salt Path is an upcoming 2025 British Film based on the memoir written by Raynor Winn.
The book and film detail Raynor’s experiences of her and her husband’s (Moth) South West Coastal walk after being made homeless and learning Moth is living with a rare neurodegenerative condition called Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD).
The film is directed by Marianne Elliot and stars Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs.
The film received it’s first screening during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2024. It is due for UK release in April 2025.
THE SALT PATH FILM RESEARCH
Ahead of filming the Salt Path Film, director and Tony Award and Olivier Award winning theatre artist, Marianne Elliott got in touch with a charity called PSPA.
Marianne wanted to ensure CBD was accurately portrayed in the film and hopes the UK charity, that supports people living with the condition, could help with her research.
PSPA arranged for Marianne to attend a number of their online CBD Support Group meetings and set up calls with people living with CBD and their carers.
Marianne said:
“I felt a huge sense of responsibility to accurately portray CBD. I’d spent some time with Raynor and Moth, but I also wanted to get a sense of how CBD affected others to make sure the script and portrayal was right.
“From the conversations PSPA helped to set up, I learned how CBD strikes people in different ways. I heard how hard the path to diagnosis was, and how difficult it is to come to terms with getting diagnosed with a condition that has no treatment, no cure. I’m grateful to everyone for sharing their experiences of CBD so openly with me. I hope we can help in some way, shine a light on this little known and little understood condition.”
Raynor and Moth Winn
Raynor and Moth Winn have been supported by PSPA since Moth’s CBD diagnosis in 2013.
As well as gaining support from PSPA’s Helpline, Raynor and Moth attend PSPA Support Groups when they can and also support PSPA’s research efforts.
As a result of the support they have received, and wanting to raise as much awareness as possible the couple have regularly worked with PSPA.
Raynor has shared her experience of having The Salt Path book published and then developed into a film in two editions of PSPA’s magazine, PSPA Matters.
The couple regularly raise awareness and funds for PSPA. In 2023, Raynor and Moth walked the London Marathon, raising approximately £15,000 for the charity.
This fundraising continued in 2024 too. The couple first walked the Thames Path in April, and following a few days break, then walked the London Marathon again, raising a further £13,000 for PSPA.
Read more about Raynor and Moth’s support below.
Moth Winn’s CBD Diagnosis
Moth was diagnosed with Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD) in 2013, whilst he and Raynor were walking the South West Coastal Path.
Moth was just 53 years old and the couple believe he had been experiencing problems for around two years prior to his diagnosis.
Raynor said:
“It was easy to brush off Moth’s initial symptoms. He had a physical job so when he started experiencing pain and numbness in his left shoulder and arm, we thought it was a torn ligament or some sort of nerve damage.
“We trialled different therapies for around a year before things started to take a different turn. The loss of dexterity and development of a tremor, led to Moth being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and we lived with that diagnosis for around a year. When the medication failed to make a difference, investigations were opened again.
“When Moth was finally diagnosed with CBD, the explanation of the condition was quite vague. The main thing that stuck in my mind about it was the fact there was no treatment and no cure.”
Learn more about CBD below.
What is CBD?
Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD) is a progressive neurological condition.
CBD involves the degeneration of brain cells caused by the accumulation of abnormal tau proteins. This leads to a range of symptoms affecting movement, which usually begins on one side of the body, as well as affecting cognition. CBD may also affect speech, memory, and behaviour.
CBD is considered a rare disease, affecting approximately 5 individuals per 100,000 population. This prevalence rate places it on par with conditions like Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Motor Neuron Disease (MND), but it remains significantly less common than Parkinson’s disease. The typical age of onset for CBD is between 60 and 70 years, though cases have been documented ranging from the 40s to the 90s.
You can read more about CBD, the symptoms and how it impacts individuals and families below.
PSPA – THE UK CHARITY
PSPA is the UK’s only charity dedicated to supporting people living with CBD and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
The charity works to ensure the 10,000 people with PSP or CBD receive support and care that is co-ordinated, has continuity and is compassionate.
Learn more about PSPA and how you can help below.
