Young Onset Parkinson's Association (YOPA) A New Generation of Advocates

The mission of the Young Onset Parkinson's Association (YOPA) is to educate the American public and politicians on issues relating to Parkinson's disease, specifically those issues associated with the unique cases of young onset patients. YOPA, which is filing as a non-profit organization, consists of Parkinsons advocates all over the United States as well as Parkinsons ambassadors worldwide. The associations Board of Directors and representatives is comprised solely of people with Parkinson's disease.

PRESS RELEASE - Immediate

JULY 15, 2002

CONTACTS:
Tom Berdine, President, Young Onset Parkinson's Association (YOPA)
505-293-5612, tomberdine@yopa.org
Greg Sterling, Public Relations Officer, YOPA, 724-734-6237, gsterling@yopa.org
Jackie Christensen, Minnesota YOPA representative, 612-721-2282

Young Onset Parkinson's Association (YOPA)
A New Generation of Advocates

July15, 2002 -- Albuquerque, NM

Today a new national advocacy organization dedicated to addressing the specific needs and issues affecting Parkinson's disease (PD) patients diagnosed before the age 55 is being launched. The Young Onset Parkinson's Association (YOPA) strives to provide education and awareness on young-onset Parkinson's disease worldwide.

Tom Berdine, president and founder of YOPA, noted that the organization is different from other PD advocacy groups in several ways.

"YOPA is intended to serve people around the United States as well as other countries who have Parkinson's disease, specifically those who developed the disease before the age of 55," said Berdine, who was diagnosed at age 33. "I recently received an e-mail from the mother of a 14 year old boy diagnosed with Parkinsons. His symptoms include full body tremors. We have many members aged 18-26 on youngparkinsons.com. This is not fair to them. They have just as much right as anyone else to live a healthy life. We need to find a cure today, not tomorrow."

The primary mission of the Young Onset Parkinson's Association (YOPA) is to educate the public and elected officials on issues relating to Parkinson's disease, specifically those issues associated with the young onset community.

YOPAs Board of Directors and representatives are comprised solely of people with Parkinson's disease, and receive no salary for their services. YOPAs membership includes Parkinsons patients worldwide, many of who serve as YOPA Ambassadors.

Another key component of YOPA's mission is to assist all young-onset Parkinsons patients, with emphasis on the newly diagnosed. YOPA is actively searching for these people and is developing an effective means of personal support using the Internet.

The Associations State Representatives convey health related issues and legislation to all Parkinson's groups and patients by attending and supporting Parkinson's forums, symposiums, and fundraisers throughout the nation.

Additionally, YOPA sponsors both local and national fundraisers providing much needed funds for advocacy and research efforts. YOPA plans to work closely with environmental groups, researchers, and public health organizations on the potential role environmental factors and/or chemical toxins are a cause of Parkinson's Disease.

We are working collectively with other Parkinsons organizations to ensure that duplication of effort does not exist, and to offer them our unique blend of energy and varied professional backgrounds.