Press Release
SpotlightYOPD is a charity that focuses on young onset Parkinson’s (Charity number 1165177). The Charity was formally registered on the 15th of January 2016 and founded by Gaynor Edwards.
Gaynor was diagnosed in 2012 after several years of symptoms. She was frustrated by the lack of understanding that the condition also affected younger people. Using her background in journalism, PR and marketing, she decided to take action. Gaynor is still committed to the charity as a patron. We are continuing her vision and strive to raise awareness, provide support and generate change.
Young onset Parkinson’s begins before the age of 50. The impact of this can be high, especially as younger people are often still working or in education, raising families, caring for older relatives, etc. In addition, many clinical practitioners (non-specialists) don’t recognise the early onset symptoms and so misdiagnosis is common.
Whilst we are a small charity, we have a big voice. We will be marking the 10th anniversary of the charity throughout 2026 to celebrate what we have achieved so far, and gain momentum for the future. We have events, campaigns, and fundraising opportunities throughout the year. We commit to using our 10th anniversary to continue to raise awareness of the condition, improve clinical care, and support research into better diagnosis, treatments and finding a cure.
