When David Chedester was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 27, his first reaction was to sink into depression and drinking.

Now 29, the Moneta man has moved on, and is doing all he can to raise awareness of the disease.

“As long as I can talk and walk, I’m going to do what I can,” Chedester said.

That will include a trip to Capitol Hill on Feb. 27, when Chedester and other members of Parkinson’s Action Network will lobby members of Congress for more funding for research to find a cure for Parkinson’s, a disorder of the brain that leads to tremors and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination.

Last year, Chedester published a book, “Shakin’ Not Stirred (finding perseverance through Parkinson’s)” that outlined his long battle of alcohol and depression after first learning that he possibly had Parkinson’s.

He also started his own non-profit group to help raise money for his cause.

“This will be a new and exciting experience for me,” Chedester said of his upcoming trip to Washington D.C..  “I’ve never been in a situation before where my voice was this important and impactful for so many people.”

“Over 1 million people in the U.S. battle Parkinson’s disease every day, but only a handful of those are anywhere near my age.  This disease continues to have an effect on people’s lives, and it needs to stop.”