PD Mama

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 💙👊❤️⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

16/01/2026

11 years ago tomorrow, on the day of my baby shower, i went into labour 3.5 weeks early and my son was born half an hour after arriving in hospital 🥰
I spent one night in hospital and came home totally smitten and a bit overwhelmed.
I had been diagnosed with less than 2 years prior, my symptoms badly managed from dx to after my daughter's birth in 2016.
I am so proud to be mother to two wonderful kids despite everything life keeps throwing at me.
Happy birthday for tomorrow to the one who made me a mummy 🫶❤️

15/01/2026

Recommend attending the Sport Parkinson's Try-Athlon if you have Parkinson's! It's in May this year 💙
Great, inclusive event 🫶

06/01/2026

Hi 👋 Here are 10 things you may or may not know about me ---> tell me 10 things about you in the comments?
1. I have a BA joint hons in French and English and a Masters in Applied Translation Studies. I used to be a project manager and translator in what now feels like a former life. I'm a full time mum with a
2. I was born on New Year's Eve - the whole world has a party on my birthday 🎂 🥳
3. As well as (my main gripe, dx age 29, 12 years ago in 2013), I have ulcerative colitis and a severe dust mite allergy that triggers asthma.
4. I've lived in the south of England for 18 years, but I'm from Northumberland and I love my home county. I'll always feel like I'm nearly home when crossing the Tyne or driving past the Angel of the North.
5. I love sea glass hunting for tiny sea-tumbled treasures.
6. I love singing, playing piano and all things musical. makes this difficult but doesn't stop me from harmonising to everything and anything.
7. I had 🤖 in Jan 2024 but I got an infection and had to have the whole system removed in June and reinserted November the same year. 2024 was the year of the 3 brain surgeries 🧠
8. I play and was recently selected to play for the first ever all-female Parkinson's England team 💙⚽️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
9. 2025 was all about healing and acceptance. 2026 is about trying to continue on this path of existence and finding myself again... 👊
10. I wish I'd seen Bowie live in concert at least once in my life xx

04/01/2026

What a great way to start 2026 and a privilege to train with this group of ladies! Thank you for giving me something to look forward to this year - so proud to represent the Parkinson's community and my country... I'm already looking forward to the next one 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿❤️💙🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

03/01/2026

💫Happy New Year 💫
On our way to first ever ladies England Parkinson's walking football training! Exciting! ❤️❤️❤️💙💙💙

24/12/2025

Merry Christmas you filthy animals 😝

19/12/2025

2025 has not been the easiest year. Despite making things slightly easier overall, I suppose, some things seem so simple yet so difficult.... daily tasks when you have advanced are just so hard, and looking after the kids, i feel very limited in my capability and it's very frustrating and upsetting... stress makes my body seize up. My mental health is prob at an all time low... BUT I've grown my hair, and my head wounds are close to being healed (should really be by now!) so that's something. Makes me feel slightly better anyway.
One of my highlights this year (and i hope for the year to come) is that I'm really enjoying walking football and can't wait to meet my ladies' team again when we train on 3 Jan 🥰
I have Christmas and a birthday to get through before that, though, so have a great one - I'll be getting through a huge biscuit hamper from my bestie if you need me 😇💙❤️ (Ringtons ftw)

10/12/2025

And here's the reprise, another year nearly over and a lot to be grateful for xx
Fupd xx