Portland mayor commends 51品茶students for chronic pain research and advocacy

Samantha Shepard with Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling
Samantha Shepard with Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling

Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling recognized September as Chronic Pain Awareness month in a ceremony at the 51品茶鈥檚 Portland Campus. The event was one in a series of events that month sponsored by UNE鈥檚 student-run Pain Education and Advocacy Collaborative (PEAC), the Southern Maine Chronic Pain Support Group and Young People in Recovery.

Before reading the proclamation, Mayor Strimling thanked those who shared their personal stories of living with chronic pain and addiction. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine what it is like to live that way but I am inspired by your words and your willingness to tell others your story and the work that you do every day to try to survive.鈥

Similar proclamations were also signed in Saco and Biddeford. Samantha Shepard '17, PEAC facilitator, lives with chronic pain and expressed her gratitude for the support of all three municipalities.

"We are striving to make a deep impact in the lives of so many people, and we are very grateful for the support stemming from Mayor Strimling and the Cities of Portland, Biddeford and Saco,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he proclamation signing today gives us encouragement and hope that our messages will be heard and represented in our local and state government.鈥 

 

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