HONESDALE, PA — If you think that a drug called levodopa is something that illegal drug users buy in dark alleys, you are about to have your awareness about Parkinson’s disease expanded.

To that end, and to highlight the issues faced by more than one million Americans who are suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, the Wayne County Commissioners on April 25 proclaimed April as Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system. There is no cure and no way to slow the progression of the disease. Levodopa is the primary medication for Parkinson’s, but it only makes the symptoms easier to live with.

In Wayne and Pike counties, chapters of the Michael J. Fox Foundation have been raising money for research since 2015, more than $160,000, spokesman Roland Grote told the commissioners. Grote, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2012, said this year’s goal for the National fund drive is $70,000.

“Our goal is a cure,” said spokesman Eric Linde, although no single cause for the disorder has ever been isolated. “A lot of people are walking around with it and don’t know it, as some symptoms are much like those of other physical problems. “I had back problems that I eventually learned was Parkinson’s. If you treat it early on, you can be helped.”

This year’s fundraising focuses again is a 5k run/walk and Resource Fair to be held on Saturday morning, June 15 at Milford’s Ann Street Park. Registration will begin at 9 a.m.

In other business, the commissioners awarded a $174,937 construction contract to Grimm Construction for the work that will create a new 1,700 square-foot space in the Dreher Township Municipal Building for a food pantry that will service residents in six Wayne and Pike townships. The existing pantry in the basement of the Moravian Church will relocate. The project is funded by Local Share Grant money from Monroe County gaming.

The commissioners also executed the $439,371 contract for disbursements of finalizing fiscal year 2018, federal Community Development Block Grant funding and an agreement with the United Way of Monroe County to service the Pocono Home4Good Homeless Prevention Project.