Hope Flies Health Series Featuring Actress Holly Robinson Peete and Medical Experts On Autism, Parkinson's and Mitochondrial Disease

Online, October 15, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Actress, author, talk show host, and philanthropist Holly Robinson Peete -- an advocate for Autism and Parkinson's disease -- will be the keynote speaker at the first annual Hope Flies Health Series presented by the Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine on Thursday, November 8, 2012 from 7 pm to 9 pm at the Four Seasons Hotel, 75 14th Street, Atlanta.

The event will feature a talk by Ms. Robinson Peete about her personal journey with her father's Parkinson's and her son's Autism, followed by an expert clinical panel with speakers addressing Autism, Parkinson's and mitochondrial disease. Clinical experts include Parkinson's expert Dr. Zbigniew Wszolek of the Mayo Clinic; mitochondrial disease expert Dr. John Shoffner of Medical Neurogenetics Lab; Autism expert and author Dr. Martha Herbert, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Pediatric Neurologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston; and Associate Provost and developmental neuropsychologist Robin Morris, PhD, of Georgia State University.

Laura Stanley, Executive Director for the Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine, is looking forward to helping people understand the connection between mitochondrial disease and other related diseases.

"Holly Robinson Peete has a personal connection to Autism and Parkinson's. She is a true advocate for education about the diseases, and she can relate to how families cope daily with the diseases," said Stanley. "The medical experts we are bringing in for the event will share the latest in research and further the understanding and common connection mitochondria have in all of these diseases."

Ms. Robinson Peete and her husband NFL quarterback Rodney Peete started the HollyRod Foundation to raise awareness and research dollars for both Autism and Parkinson's disease. Ms. Peete recently joined the cast of the TV series Mike & Molly and was also an original co-host of the program The Talk. Her early TV career included starring roles in the successful series 21 Jump Street and Hangin' With Mr. Cooper.

Individual tickets to the event are $50; VIP tickets are $125 and include a copy of the book - "My Brother Charlie" co-authored by Ms. Robinson Peete and her daughter Ryan Elizabeth Peete -- and a private post-event champagne desert reception with Ms. Robinson Peete at 9 pm. The Foundation is also collaborating with Autism Speaks/Georgia Community and the National Parkinson's Disease Association/Georgia chapteron the event. All proceeds benefit the Foundation for Mitochondrial Disease.

For more event information or to buy tickets, please visit http://bit.ly/HopeFlies-HollyRP. For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.mitochondrialdiseases.org.

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Media contact: Jennifer Grizzle, jennifer@theprstudio.com or 770.409.1152