NM, USA - The Young Onset Parkinson's Association (YOPA), a newly formed Parkinson's support organization headquartered in Albuquerque, has joined forces with the New Mexico Chapter of the American Parkinson's Disease Association (APDA) in presenting the First Annual Southwest Regional Parkinson's Disease Conference and First Annual Young Onset Parkinson's Disease Awareness Walk, to be held October 11-12, 2002.

YOPA President and Founder Tom Berdine, of Albuquerque said, "This ushers in a new era of cooperation among PD organizations nationwide. In order to be effective all the various organizations need to combine their strengths and move toward one common goal, which is to make Parkinson's disease a memory. The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta is the perfect background to symbolize the rising hope of all Parkinson's sufferers that a cure is close at hand."

The mission of YOPA is to educate the public and elected officials on issues pertaining to Parkinson's disease, with emphasis on those issues that impact patients diagnosed before the age of fifty. Ultimately YOPA would like to ensure that a young onset representative is present at all Parkinson's related forums and events across the country.

Susan Reese, Coordinator, APDA National Young Onset Information and Referral Centers, stated, "We hope that this joint venture will be a prototype for regional conferences throughout the country. The APDA Young Onset Information and Referral Center provides education and support to the younger PD population and develops resources to meet the challenge of this disease. Together we will work to 'Ease the burden and find the cure' ."

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