ABOUT THE PROJECT
LOGLINE
In a 25-mile radius from filmmaker Sarah Teale’s farm there are 577 people with Parkinson’s. After her husband is diagnosed, Teale sets out to find out why.
SYNOPSIS
In 2021, filmmaker Sarah Teale’s husband, Gordon Chaplin, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In the wake of this diagnosis, Teale uncovered a striking pattern: in a single valley near their farm in upstate New York, fourteen farmers and their neighbors were also suffering from Parkinson’s.
The story is personal. Ralph Getty, whose family had farmed in Hebron, NY since 1853, died of Parkinson’s—only to have his son, Robert, diagnosed with the same disease. Robert’s cousin, Kevin, a seventh-generation farmer, was also diagnosed. Just across the road, Rea Campbell, another local dairy farmer, succumbed to Parkinson’s. Lyle Crosier, who farmed the neighboring land, also battled the disease until his death. All these farms are located along Black Creek, where runoff from pesticide spraying has gathered for decades.
Among other neighbors, Debbie Sokol faces both Parkinson’s and multiple system atrophy (MSA), while sisters Sally and Laurie Liebig, who grew up just half a mile away, are also affected. Determined to understand the cause, Teale reached out to Dr. Ray Dorsey, a leading neurologist and author of Ending Parkinson’s: A Prescription for Action. Dorsey agreed to meet with the Hebron community, and 85 people attended, many of them affected by Parkinson’s. At the meeting, Dr. Dorsey explained that only 15% of Parkinson’s cases are genetic, with the remainder linked to environmental factors—specifically the pesticides commonly used in farming. These chemicals, which seep into the air, soil, and water, are believed to play a significant role in triggering the disease.
But could these chemicals be the sole cause? Is the land and water along Rt. 31 still contaminated? What are the Gettys using on their farm today, and could a fourth generation of farmers be struck by Parkinson’s? Is the link genetic, or could something more sinister be at play?
PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature
DIRECTOR Sarah Teale
PRODUCER Sarah Teale
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Amanda Tiller
WEBSITE tealeproductionsinc.com
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