May 13, 2026
Parkinson’s Awareness Month Recap & June 18 Speaker Series Announcement
As we recap Parkinson’s Awareness Month, I would like to thank our community members, area businesses, elected officials, and Community Wellness Partners colleagues for taking part in honoring and supporting people who are living with and fighting Parkinson’s disease in some small, yet impactful, way.
SPARK the Night is a worldwide effort through the Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Avengers to light up buildings, homes, landmarks, and signage BLUE during the month of April in recognition of Parkinson’s Awareness Month and World Parkinson’s Day on April 11. More than 30 entities in the Mohawk Valley participated in this activity, with nine of them NEW this year! In a time where utility rates have spiked dramatically, you still kept your BLUE lights on throughout the night each evening!
This year, the Parkinson’s Disease Avengers created a video featuring nine photos from Community Wellness Partners, captured during Spark the Night in the Mohawk Valley. Watch the video:
Proclamations were also given to Community Wellness Partners from our local elected officials, recognizing the efforts of our work for the people who are investing in education, exercise, and other activities to help relieve the symptoms of living with Parkinson’s disease. From our local villages and towns, to our cities, and the NY State Assembly, thank you for recognizing the work that we do here locally and for recognizing the battles that your constituents currently face with this degenerative disease.
Community Wellness Partners held the first-ever Parkinson’s Symposium in the Mohawk Valley on April 25. More than 200 people joined us to listen to five panelists who spoke about Deep Brain Stimulation, Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT) BIG, falls prevention, neuroprotection, and nutrition. If you missed it or would like to watch again, view the presentations here. Thank you to the host venue, Five Points Public House at the Irish Cultural Center, Utica, for the variety of foods for everyone’s diet and a pleasant space for the event.
To the Community Wellness Partners Team, who helped raise funds through bottle and can donations, paid dollars each day to wear blue jeans on Fridays and during the week following World Parkinson’s Day, and stepped in to help with planning and execution of our events, you rock! Our team also participated in a door decorating contest, which proved their creativity and passion for this cause on a whole other level. They see firsthand the struggles and the successes people with Parkinson’s face through LSVT BIG and LOUD programs, Cycling & Nutrition for Parkinson’s classes, Rock Steady Boxing, Parkinson’s Support Groups, and so much more! Hats off to you for your compassion, your drive, and your fight for our people!
To OUR PEOPLE who are currently living with this disease as the persons themselves, family members, and caregivers. This is for you! We will continue to make every effort possible to bring you top-notch education, healthcare talent, expertise, and support during your journey. We know it’s not easy, but I hope we make it a little less scary!
Parkinson’s disease is NOT COOL, but when you come to Community Wellness Partners, you ARE among COOL people! An individual in a Parkinson’s Support Group Meeting recently said, “When I go out in public, I hide my hand tremor. I don’t have to here, because just about everyone else has the same tremor as me!”
What’s Next?
Save the date and register for the next William & Rita Abraham Speaker Series. It’s scheduled for Thursday, June 18,from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. The featured speaker is Dr. Octavian Adam, Chief of Neurology at the Albany Stratton VA Medical Center. He will be speaking about infusion treatments for Parkinson’s disease, developments in Deep Brain Surgery, and MR-guided focused ultrasound. For more information and registration, please e-mail [email protected], call (315) 235-7353, or visit our Speaker Series page for full details.
The Community Wellness Partners Parkinson’s Awareness Walk has been set for Saturday, September 12. Registration begins at 10:00 AM, and 11:00 AM will feature a brief introduction followed by the Walk around Sherrill Brook Park, 4191 State Highway Route 12, New Hartford, NY. Save the date and mark your calendars!
