Being Young at Park
Karyn Spilberg was a primary school teacher prior to being diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s in 2002. Diagnosed at age 44, Karyn immediately began an ongoing quest to help other people living with Young Onset Parkinson’s.
A Fight Parkinson’s Ambassador and Member of the Governance and Research Committee, Karyn is also a keen a blogger, sharing her knowledge and experiences online. She also founded Young at Park, a support group for people living with Young Onset Parkinson’s.
Karyn has raised thousands of dollars to support services and research into Parkinson's. In 2009, Karyn was one of 15 participants to ride around Vietnam as part of the Pedalling for Parkinson's Vietnam Challenge, raising $6,000 for Fight Parkinson’s. She has also participated in Fight Parkinson’s’s annual signature fundraising event, A Walk in the Park since it began seven years ago.
She has made numerous media appearances to raise awareness, including coverage of her DBS surgery on Australian television. Karyn has attended Parkinson’s conferences all over the world - in Minnesota and Reston, the World Congress in 2006 in Washington DC, the Parkinson's Unity Walk in 2007. Karyn also presented at the Parkinson's Australia National Conference in Brisbane.
In 2013, Karyn was awarded the Sir Zelman Cowan Award for outstanding support for people with Parkinson's. Karyn’s objective continues to be to campaign for others, working together with Fight Parkinson’s, where she hopes to make a difference to people living with Parkinson’s, their carers and families.
Karyn joined thousands of others for A Walk in the Park in Melbourne on 30 August. You can help celebrate and support people just like Karyn by donating to A Walk in the Park.