The ALL IN summit was a game changer for Lori DePorter, and she became a PMD Alliance Ambassador. She is excited to grow as a leader and continue empowering others to see that “Life with Parkinson’s is different, but it can still be good.”
Lori lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Mike. She has three grown sons and a granddaughter. Diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease at 45, Lori became a Parkinson’s advocate through health & wellness, writing, public policy advocacy, and community outreach. She is a published author, rock-steady coach, certified personal trainer, and support group educator.
Lori and Mike’s Parkinson’s journey will continue in Barcelona, Spain, at the World Parkinson’s Congress (WPC). They will participate as patients and care partners, learning about cutting-edge developments in Parkinson’s.
At WPC, Lori will present her poster abstract, “Support Groups are Empowering People with Parkinson’s.” It focuses on her experience with the Michael J. Fox Foundation promoting The National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act and the letter-writing campaign activity she did with her support groups.
Throughout the Congress, she will be in the Support Group Leader Lounge facilitating workshops, including icebreakers and drumming. Many people don’t like icebreakers, but Lori has found that you may learn something about yourself or someone else with a simple activity of “This or That.” As for drumming, Lori says, “Music and dancing activities are at the core of my care plan, and everyone will drum to We Will Rock You by Queen. Music brings people together to have fun and dance like no one is watching.”
Lori plans to write about Alliance Adventures in Barcelona – stay tuned!
Lori encourages you to visit her website, www.lorideporter.com, for information on her publications, fitness classes, support groups, and other valuable resources, including how to write your policymakers to support legislation that helps the movement disorders community.
Lori runs two support groups listed below that you can join by following this link.
Virtual – John Hopkins YOPD
In Person – YMCA Lewisburg, PA
