It’s a disease that can often be invisible for some.

"Parkinson's is a disease that you don't see," Yvonne Hylton, board member of Rochester Parkinson Network, said. "It's progressive, starts out very slowly and people go a long period of time without being diagnosed in some circumstances. So living with Parkinson's is challenging in that people don't always see what the struggles are."

Diagnosed in 2007, Hylton, alongside her husband Kevin, wanted to make a difference. In doing so they founded the organization Rochester Parkinson Network, creating advocacy and education around Parkinson's disease.

"We saw a need for a local presence for Parkinson resources," Hylton said. "And that's what we're trying to provide."

Dedicated to empowering individuals affected by Parkinson's disease, their goal is to cultivate a supportive community and bridge information gaps.

"There’s 4,000 people with Parkinson's in Rochester, and many of them don't even know that there's anybody else with Parkinsons in Rochester," organization co-founder Daniel Kinel said. "Parkinson's could be a very isolating disease. People can feel alone and like they're in it by themselves. They're creating a creative space to get together and learn from each other and be part of a community of people that helps them deal with their condition."

Spreading the word through events such as their 'Parkinson's Network Kickoff' in collaboration with Rochester Accessible Adventures. Ensuring people with disabilities have access to health and wellness through recreation and sports.

"Eighty percent of our health and wellness for any of us takes place outside of medical offices," executive director of Rochester Accessible Adventures Anita O'Brien said. "That's the space we fill. That's where we're looking to bridge those gaps. It's a lot of people who have been denied access to health and wellness because they can't go to these places and participate and engage there. So that's why we have this space. Our mission is to really shift the narrative and make that start happening."

Organizers hope participants learn how to manage symptoms of Parkinson’s disease through a variety of activities and foster friendship along the way, but also pave the way for more businesses and recreational spaces to offer more inclusive and accessible activities for all to enjoy.

"For the community to understand that that's the expectation, that's what inclusion looks like and feels like in that they can have a role in that," O’Brien said.

For more information on resources and events offered to those with Parkinson’s, visit www.rocparknet.org or email Rocparknet@gmail.com.