The LEAP Award

LEAP stands for Living, Encouraging, Achieving and Persisting. The award is presented to an individual who is age 14 or older living positively with mitochondrial disease. The Awardee overcomes daily challenges to achieve goals in career, family, and volunteer service. The individual demonstrates a positive attitude, hope for a brighter future, and an enthusiasm that inspires others.

We are proud to recognize Daniel Barsook as the 2025 LEAP Award recipient.

Daniel was diagnosed with MERRF syndrome (myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibers) as a young adult. Daniel is a California native with a BA in Communications and Journalism from the University of Oregon. His nickname is “Dan the Man,” and he owns every bit of it.

A UMDF Support Ambassador since 2016, Daniel in his words seeks to “work with individuals impacted by mitochondrial diseases, which are devastating, to help them grow personally and have a healthy life.” This past springs, Daniel participated in the Mitochondria in Health and Disease Gordon Research Conference at Ventura Beach as a panelist, representing the mito patient perspective for an audience of medical professionals and researchers.

Over the last year, especially, Daniel has become a tourist in his hometown – venturing out regularly and sharing with his friends his many adventures. Whether he’s been checking out beach accessibility, attending the Jimmy Kimmel show, or heading out for an Alaskan cruise — he’s been living up to the mantra, “Life is short, eat it up.”

For his tremendous service to the mito community and his amazing outlook, we recognize Daniel Barsook as our 2025 LEAP Awardee.

Previous LEAP Awardees

Jared Goettemoeller 2024
Tricia Melland 2023
Debbie Parsons 2022
Lily Finnigan 2021
Holmes Family 2020
Melissa Kieffer 2019
Andy Garrison 2018
Michael Malecha 2017
Bethany Stamper 2016
Chelsea Lloyd 2015
Devin Shuman 2014
Cynthia Steward 2013
Rachael Pipp 2012
Porsha Williams 2011
Desiree McGowen 2010
Perri Miologos 2009
Theresa Garvin 2008
Jamieson Smith 2007
Pam Johnson 2006
Alice Adams 2005
Kevin Shelly 2004