Why Attend

SPF’s Annual Conference is more than a meeting—it is a gathering of voices, experiences, and shared determination. It is a place where families come together, questions are welcomed, and progress is shared openly. Whether this is your first conference, or you’ve attended before, or joined us virtually, you are an essential part of our community.

When individuals and families affected by HSP and PLS come together in one location, something powerful happens. We are no longer isolated stories—we become a visible, united community. Our collective presence helps clinicians, researchers, industry partners, and policymakers truly understand the scope, urgency, and human impact of these conditions. Seeing the community together—across ages, diagnoses, and stages—underscores why progress cannot wait and why patient voices must remain central to every research and care decision.

This conference is also about connections and care. It offers practical tools for living well today—through wellness, movement, nutrition, and supportive technologies—while also advancing the research and innovation needed for tomorrow’s treatments. Your participation strengthens the research ecosystem, informs priorities, and helps ensure that future therapies reflect real patient needs.

We can’t wait to welcome you to **St. Louis—the Gateway—** as we come together to learn, connect, and move forward on the pathway to better health, meaningful research, and lasting hope for us all. By attending, you help amplify patient voices, support one another, and show the world the strength and resilience of the HSP and PLS community—together.

With excitement and heartfelt appreciation,