Live Well Today, and Tomorrow
Our Mission
Stand Up to Parkinson’s supports regional programming for PD patients to help them find resources that provide opportunities to live more fulfilling lives. An example of this is Help for Parkinson’s, whose mission “is to help people living in the New York Greater Capital Region who are affected by Parkinson’s Disease by giving them access to daily living tools, tips, and resources needed to live well today, and tomorrow.”
Our History
In 2017, Tim Lange, a well known Capital Region Coach and educator, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Noticing tremors in his right hand, he was treated by a neurologist affiliated with the AlbanyMed Movement Disorder department. Tim soon decided that he would take up the fight to help researchers find a cure for PD. Together with his wife, Dawn, they established Stand up to Parkinson’s in 2019. Since the first Golf Tournament, SUTP has continued to grow as a fundraising organization that not only supports local research at Albany Medical Center, but also other regional programming that assists current Parkinson’s patients in the Capital Region live more fulfilling lives.
Growth and Commitment
In 2022, the Lange’s relocated to Arizona and passed on the organization’s leadership to their longtime friends, Rodger Wyland and Dan and Lisa Smith. Rodger, the well known Sports Director with News Channel 13, recently lost his dear Mother to the disease. He desperately wanted to honor her by continuing to raise funds through an area golf event. He reached out to his good friend Jeff Sperber to see if Jeff would be willing to help. They moved the Tournament to Colonie Golf and Country Club and took the event from raising $40,000 the previous year to $80,000 in 2022. At that point, they realized the tremendous need for a larger presence for Parkinson’s Disease in the region. They quickly established a professional Board of Directors and elevated the cause to the next level. With Rodger as the president and Jeff as the Director of Development and an extremely involved volunteer board, they have continued to double their fund raising budget every year. The 2026 Golf Event raised $263,000.
Creating Lasting Impact
The success of the Golf, Pickleball and other initiatives has allowed Stand up to Parkinson’s to fund the first ever Parkinson’s Center as a full resource to patients. Because of our support, people with PD can exercise, meet others, attend learning and therapy sessions and much more. In less than one year, the Center in the Hannaford Plaza off of Wolf Rd, has well over 600 members utilizing the facility on a regular basis. We are most grateful to the YMCA for their partnership. We also offer a heartfelt appreciation to our generous sponsors that make all of this possible.