News and Events News Archive

2002 National Conference: Youth Track

First posted Sept. 13, 2002

So imagine you're in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 9-11, staying in a hotel near SeaWorld. The Psoriasis Foundation is hosting a national conference for adults, but for the first time the organization has included a special program for youth-you and 21 other kids ranging in age from 7 to 18 spend the weekend together participating in various activities, including visits to area attractions.

What was the highlight of the weekend? If you said probably SeaWorld, you have more than psoriasis in common with the youths who were at the event. That was the first thing they said when they were asked what they enjoyed most about the program.

But after thinking about it, most of the kids came up with another answer: meeting other people with psoriasis who are the same age, and just hanging out.

"I don't know any other kids [with psoriasis] in my town," said Brittany Delatte, 17, from Lafayette, La. She and Amy Woo, 18, of Silver Springs, Md., said the "Shamu thing" at SeaWorld was the most fun, but glanced at each other and added that meeting new people and making friends was pretty cool too.

On Saturday, as part of the activities, the young people made address books so they could exchange information and keep in touch, and heard about new treatments from a psoriasis expert, Michael Zanolli, M.D., a psoriasis specialist from Nashville, Tenn.

Rachel Johnson, 11, from Lawrenceville, Ga., said she knows a couple of adults who have psoriasis, but also had not met any other kids her age who have the disease. Would she attend another Psoriasis Foundation program for youth next year?

"Definitely. I like being with kids with psoriasis and learning more about it and having fun," she said.

Amanda Limson, 8, from Wheelock, Texas, said she got to ride on a roller coaster for the first time. She said she is going to keep in touch with the other people who attended the program. "I made friends," she said.

Can SeaWorld compare with that?

The young people first gathered on Friday, Aug. 9, to learn what was in store for them over the weekend.

Louis Sommo, 16, reported after the event: "I had never met anyone even remotely close to my age with psoriasis until August 9th. The welcome session started at 7:30 p.m. We played some games, and got a general idea of what the weekend was going to be like. Then, we met up with our parents for dinner, heard some guest speakers, and saw some exhibits from companies also fighting the good fight."

"The real fun for the kids started on Saturday," Louis continued. "We started the day pretty much like the night before. I got to know some new people. We then split up into the different age groups and went to SeaWorld. Eric, Amy, Alex and I sat in the front row for the Shamu show. We got soaked and I loved it."

On Sunday, the youths gathered again in the morning for photographs and a last opportunity to exchange contact information. Then they said goodbye.

"We'll all be back next year," Louis says. "Maybe the Psoriasis Foundation will let us run this Youth Track. Who better to run a youth group than a group of youths?"

Louis, we'll be in touch.