Our History

In 2013, Dr. Alan Massing, diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD), and his spouse, Jacqueline, visited Dr. Becky Farley's PWR4Life gym in Tucson which offers therapeutic programs designed for people with PD. The Massings decided that there should be a similar gym program in Orange County (OC), their home.

After consulting with local neurologists, and with the help of Dr. Patricia Brown, PT, and Marci Nail, person with PD, the Parkinson’s Exercise Programs for You (PEP4U) was founded in 2014. Initially under the non-profit umbrella organization of the Parkinsons Association of Orange County (PAOC), PEP4U held its first exercise classes at a local PT clinic with just a handful of participants. As classes grew, a new home was found at the Laguna Niguel’s family YMCA, and soon it expanded to other locations all over southern OC, also adding virtual classes when the need arose during the Covid Pandemic.

In 2021, PEP4U established its own 501(c)3 non-profit status, and currently hosts classes in 6 different locations, ranging from San Clemente to Irvine, with 15 weekly exercise classes, a pool of 10 instructors and a Steering Committee and Board of Directors overseeing operations. Social events for participants and their care partners and families are organized 2-3 times per year, and monthly educational sessions are held virtually.

All classes and programs are offered at no cost and are funded through community grants and sponsorships as well as individual donations.

Jacqueline and Dr. Alan Massing, Founders