When Awareness Gets Blocked: Fighting for Parkinson’s in a Digital World
It is difficult enough to reach the world when advocating for Parkinson’s Disease awareness. Doing so while being banned, blocked, or prevented from sharing that awareness on social media makes the fight even harder.
Imagine posting a video or message that clearly states its purpose: to raise awareness for a cure. No sales. No promotions. No agenda—just awareness. That’s exactly what I did after attending a Chris Stapleton concert, where he has performed shows dedicated to raising awareness for Parkinson’s Disease and the urgent need for a cure. I shared that experience to amplify a message of hope. I hoped it could bring a short smile to everyone in the community’s life even for a moment.
Instead, I was blocked and received a warning.
In over 30 years of attending and posting live concert moments, I have never once received a warning like this. Not for music. Not for videos. Not for sharing experiences. Yet when the post focused on Parkinson’s awareness, it was suddenly flagged and restricted.
That reality is deeply frustrating—not just personally, but for the entire Parkinson’s community.
We are not selling anything.
We are not spamming.
We are not exploiting tragedy.
We are simply trying to reach the world for good.
Social media has become one of the most powerful tools for spreading awareness, building community, and giving a voice to those who are often unheard. When those voices are silenced—intentionally or not—it creates another barrier for a community already facing relentless challenges.
Despite bans, blocks, suspensions, and warnings, we fight on.
Because Parkinson’s Disease does not stop.
It does not pause.
It does not take a break.
And neither will we.
Awareness matters. Conversations matter. Visibility matters. Every post, every video, every shared story brings us one step closer to understanding, compassion, and ultimately, a cure. No algorithm, policy, or obstacle will change that commitment.
We will keep sharing.
We will keep speaking.
We will keep fighting.
Because Parkinson’s never stops—and neither do we.
I wish we could reach Mr. Stapleton, I imagine he would be surprised and thanks BMG and YouTube for the lack of support toward awareness for a cure.
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