The 12th Parkinson’s Awareness Month Luncheon is set for Wednesday, April 4.

The Fountain Hills Parkinson Support Group will celebrate the anniversary of the group’s first meeting, started in April 2006 by the late Bruce Florence. The luncheon will be held at The Hills Pizza and Desserts at 11:30 a.m. Attendees will order from the menu and pay on their own with cash or credit card.

One of Florence’s many talents was his love of painting. One of his signature pieces, “Aging Tulips,” was inspired by the Dutch Horticulturist J.W.S. Van der Wereld.

The history behind the Parkinson’s Tulip is in 1980, Van der Wereld decided to honor Dr. James Parkinson, the first person to describe Parkinson’s in 1817, by naming a tulip after him. It thus became a symbol for Parkinson’s disease. The tulip is a red flower with distinctive leaves shaped like the letters “P” and “D”. A yellow tulip is also used to denote optimism and hope. The three petals are used to denote its three pronged mission: Hope through research, education and advocacy.

People with Parkinson’s or other movement disorders, their caregivers and all others who are interested in learning more about Parkinson’s disease are encouraged to attend the FHPSG’s regular meetings at 9:30 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month, from September through May at the Community Center.

There is no charge to attend and refreshments are served. For more information about the support group, go to fhparkinsonsupport.org or call Ron or Peggy Dew at 480-677-6515.