PD Mama

24/02/2026

💙💙💙

22/02/2026

Parkinsons and fatigue.
Why i always feel (and look) so tired. It's one of the main non-motor symptoms and I've had this, as well as sleep issues, since my mid-20s.

21/02/2026

I wouldn't get my diagnosis for another 8 months after sending this email to my parents back in December 2012. This was after several months of back and forth from the GP and a few years of symptoms, some of which i didn't even realise were pd-related like fatigue and sleep issues. Back then I still worked and took things like typing (at all, let alone coherent emails) for granted.
especially in younger females with is real. I shouldn't have felt embarrassed or have been so upset but my GP at the time made me feel like I was a hysterical woman. In hindsight, I'm relieved I pressed for a referral to neurology as I think my journey to diagnosis would have been longer and more traumatic than it was. And it wasn't exactly smooth sailing.

10/02/2026

I've been asked to share the attached by the casting team for Race across the world. They're looking to broaden representation within the cast for the next series. Could be exciting for someone with yopd who could still manage this - sadly it's not for me! 💙💙💙

05/02/2026

💊Meds taken on time today.
💊12 doses.
🤖DBS ( ) is helping my a lot, but I've been told scar tissue where my original DBS was placed in my brain then removed means they couldn't achieve perfect electrode placement second time round. I'm also extremely sensitive to the stimulation and drugs - this means if I increase my stim too much I get side effects, and if I take even slightly too much medication, l get side effects. So I have to dose every 1.5 hours. On days where I exercise, for example, I have to increase my medication just to be able to do so.
🙏 High five if you made it through the day just by taking your on time

04/02/2026

according to my 9 year old... and how to help people with

04/02/2026

What is ? Here's how my 9 year old explains it...

04/02/2026

Asking my 9 year old about ... this was the last part, but it is heartwarming and I thought I'd upload it first 🥰

03/02/2026

Interesting and insightful article by Spotlight YOPD CEO Sam Cole about living with

Latest updates from Spotlight YOPD.

30/01/2026

Please consider Spotlight YOPD if you're fundraising this year 🙏 💙

SpotlightYOPD campaign :10for10 launches today

2026 marks the 10th year since the charity was registered on the 15th of January 2016 and it offers an opportunity to raise awareness of YOPD and encourage fundraising activity. As a charity we are small and we are funded entirely by donations.

The 10for10 campaign asks people to do 10 of something through 2026 and seek sponsorship or make a donation to the charity. It could be anything…hold a coffee morning for 10 friends, a 10K sponsored walk, donate £10, write 10 poems…we want people to be as inventive or as ambitious as they choose to be.

We have two main things we are seeking to raise more funding for this year, the first is to support attendance for SpotlightYOPD representatives to attend the World Parkinsons Congress in Arizona (travel, accommodation etc) to represent the UK, Charity and YOPD interests and to network with the American organisations.
The second aim is to raise funds to hold a YOPD event in summer, which we would like to make free to attend. We plan to have a stage and entertainment and already have two “acts” lined up.

You can donate directly via our website or if you chose your own favourite fundraising platform, just let us know
https://spotlightyopd.org/donate/

Other things lined up for our 10th year include
Our new campaign: Our Community: Your Voice monthly articles written by YOPDers.
We have also secured three volunteers who were diagnosed with YOPD in 2016 to write guest articles for our Newsletter in our April, July/August and Oct/Nov editions – for them 2026 marks 10 years since their diagnosis.
Our CEO will be taking part in 10 webinars during 2026 – some run by the charity and some by partners – including with Parkinsons UK, Cure Parkinsons and the Movers and Shakers.

We hope to launch our third-party merchandise agreement, so people can buy SpotlightYOPD tee-shirts and hats, from our current supplier.

19/01/2026

So proud to play walking football with some really inspiring and strong women 💙👊❤️⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿