This month we get to know PCLA’s Lora Kurtenbach (Member, PCLA’s Board of Directors) and Sarah King (PCLA’s Information & Referral Specialist). Lora and Sarah are both adult children of parents with Parkinson’s who got involved in PD advocacy and support after diagnosis.

Barbara is a founding member of PCLA’s Board of Directors and Steve is on the advisory board. Barbara has been living with Parkinson’s since 2002. Among career mileposts, she is a past president of the Florida State Museum, the founder and president of a successful wholesale bakery, and, as an early consumer advocate in Virginia, developed toy safety regulations that became a national standard. She also raised two sons who have made their mark in the Los Angeles entertainment industry.

Last month, attendees at our Life Beyond the Basics conference were treated to a “Parkinson’s Shake Out!” exercise break by our friends at Invertigo Dance Theatre. Since 2011, Invertigo has offered the “Dancing Through Parkinson’s” (DTP) dance program to our community

Last month PCLA President Patrick LoSasso and Board Member Mark Siegel traveled to Washington, DC, for the 2019 Parkinson’s Advocacy Forum. They and 150 other advocates from across the country in educated Congressional members on policy issues impacting the PD community. We talked with Patrick about the Forum and some current legislative priorities.

David Solie is a graduate of the University of Washington, University of Manitoba, and the University of Colorado Medical School, and practiced as a licensed physician assistant for several decades. He is the author of books on eldercare and inter-generational communication, and writes about aging, caregiving, healthcare, art and poetry, and many other topics on his blog. You can see more of David’s artwork on his website, End of the World Art.

This month we’re talking to Travis Robinson. Travis has been living with Parkinson’s since 2013. An avid outdoorsman and climber, Travis’s photography often features images from his travels.

In 2000, at the age of 36, Mike Weinman was diagnosed with PD. An experienced finance and operations executive, Mike has served as Treasurer of PCLA since its founding. He also runs a support group for those living with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease. We spoke to Mike about his experience as a support group leader, his role in the formation of PCLA, and how Parkinson’s has impacted his family.