CHICOPEE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- Members of the New England Chapter of the Parkinson’s Foundation joined Chicopee Mayor John Vieu for a flag raising ceremony to raise awareness about the disease and educate the community, as April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

Western Mass News spoke with Stefany Scliopou, the Outreach & Education Manager at the New England Chapter of the Parkinson Foundation, who explains, “Right now there’s a little over a million people diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the U.S. And 90,000 people newly diagnosed each year. Every six minutes someone is diagnosed, which makes our mission critical in getting education and awareness out to the community.”

Stefany went on to tell us the disease doesn’t present the same way for everyone, which makes it difficult to diagnose. The New England Chapter of The Parkinson’s Foundation say they’re thankful for the opportunity.

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