☼ Georgetown, Texas
OUR STORY
Every great community has a story. Ours is one of hope, compassion, and people coming together to ensure that no one faces Parkinson's disease alone.
Our Story
Like many meaningful things, the beginning of Georgetown Area Parkinson's Support (GAPS) wasn't marked by a ribbon cutting or a grand opening. In fact, the exact date has been lost to time somewhere in the early 2000s. But what we do know is far more important.
It began with a handful of people in Georgetown who were navigating life with Parkinson's disease and simply didn't want to do it alone.
With the support of the Capital Area Parkinson's Society (CAPS) in Austin, they gathered each month in a small room at the Scott & White Clinic to share stories, encourage one another, and discover that hope grows stronger when it is shared. The first known leader of the group was Beverly Edwards, whose own family had been touched by Parkinson's through her son-in-law's diagnosis. Beverly helped create a place where people felt understood, welcomed, and never alone.
As the years passed, more people found their way to the group. One of them was Mary Jane Berry, who began attending in 2007 after her husband, Dave, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. What started as attending meetings soon became a calling.
By 2011, the little room at Scott & White could no longer hold the growing community. Through a new partnership with the Georgetown Health Foundation, GAPS found a new home. Mary Jane began serving alongside Beverly, and in 2012 officially stepped into the role of facilitator.
Mary Jane often laughed when telling the story of how she became the group's leader. At first, Dave wanted nothing to do with Parkinson's support groups—and certainly didn't want anyone to know about his diagnosis. But when the group realized they needed someone to lead, Dave eventually agreed that Mary Jane was the perfect person for the job. After all, he knew she would make sure the group stayed welcoming, encouraging, and full of life. He was right.
That same year, GAPS expanded beyond support meetings through a partnership with the Plummer Movement Disorder Foundation at Scott & White. Exercise classes—including Tai Chi, yoga, and eventually dance—became an important part of helping people live well with Parkinson's. Those partnerships continued for many years before GAPS began working alongside Central Texas Advocates for Parkinson's (CTAP), extending opportunities and resources throughout Central Texas.
Then came 2020. Like so many organizations, both GAPS and CTAP faced enormous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet even in a season of isolation, the GAPS community found ways to stay connected. Support group meetings continued without interruption, offering friendship, encouragement, and hope when many needed it most.
In 2021, as CTAP made the difficult decision to conclude its work, they entrusted their nonprofit designation to GAPS. It was both an incredible gift and a tremendous responsibility.
Together with Patty Rooney-Lingo—a devoted care partner to her husband living with Parkinson's—Mary Jane began the work of transforming GAPS into an official nonprofit organization. With guidance from Vic Figurelli and the Williamson County Institute for Excellence in Nonprofits, that vision became reality. On July 15, 2021, Georgetown Area Parkinson's Support officially became a nonprofit organization and held its first meeting of its Board of Directors.
Today, GAPS is recognized as a leader in providing support, education, wellness programs, and resources for people living with Parkinson's disease, their families, care partners, and healthcare professionals. But our mission remains remarkably simple—and wonderfully unchanged. What began as a few people gathered around a table has grown into a vibrant community serving hundreds of individuals and families throughout Central Texas.
We exist so that no one has to face Parkinson's alone.Every support group, exercise class, educational event, volunteer, donor, and conversation is part of that mission. Together, we continue building a community where hope is shared, lives are strengthened, and every person is reminded that this journey is one we walk together.