Parkinson's Awareness Month got off to an early start this year with an official bump from the U.S. Senate. On March 29, the Senate passed a resolution to declare April Parkinson's Awareness Month, demonstrating for a third year in a row its support for the millions living with Parkinson's today — and the millions more who are helping to speed a cure.

The Senate declared:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Senate —
(1) supports the designation of April as Parkinson's Awareness Month;
(2) supports the goals and ideals of Parkinson's Awareness Month;
(3) continues to support research to find better treatments, and eventually, a cure for Parkinson's disease;
(4) recognizes the people living with Parkinson's who participate in vital clinical trials to advance knowledge of the disease; and
(5) commends the dedication of local and regional organizations, volunteers, and millions of Americans across the country working to improve the quality of life of persons living with Parkinson's disease and their families.

Said Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who was one of the seven legislators to introduce the bill, "We know so little about neurological diseases such as Parkinson's but we all know someone who has been impacted by them.  With this resolution, we honor those who live with Parkinson's and encourage those conducting the medical research that could hold the key to new breakthrough treatments."

Click here to the full Senate Resolution here. To find out how you can get involved in Parkinson's Awareness Month, visit www.michaeljfox.org/.