“We are dealing
with a progressive
disease that has no
cure. It is not going
to go away. But
there are resources
through the profes-
sional medical com-
munity and through
the Rock Steady
program that can
help you slow down
the progression.
And in slowing
down the progres-
sion, you can extend
your life and you
can have a better
quality of life.”
Wade Jones, Rock Steady
Boxing participant
tion, pass an exam, and attend a workshop before starting the program. He
is proud of his boxers and the dedication they have shown.
“I can’t say there is one thing that makes the program work,” he said.
“There are multiple things that make it work. But number one, I think, is it
gives them hope. They are participating in something that is working. They
are participating with others who are struggling with the same disease. It
gives them hope and from that hope, springs a desire to be here on a regular
basis and to do the hard work because we are hard on them. We push them
like we would anyone else, and then they begin to improve physically.”
The hope and the camaraderie of the other Parkinson’s boxers are what
bring the Ashmores back to class each week. Leon is fighting to keep his
symptoms from advancing while they both enjoy talking and sharing infor-
mation with other people who are struggling with the disease.
“We are learning to laugh about Parkinson’s instead of crying,” Leon
said.
Jones agrees that hope and the feeling he is winning against Parkinson’s
are his biggest motivators.
“We are dealing with a progressive disease that has no cure. It is not
going to go away,” Jones said. “But there are resources through the profes-
sional medical community and through the Rock Steady program that can
help you slow down the progression. And in slowing down the progression,
you can extend your life and you can have a better quality of life.”
Rock Steady Boxing meets from 9:30-11 a.m., Monday, Wednesday and
Friday each week at Anderson Health & Fitness Center. Parkinson’s patients
are encouraged to come and watch if they are interested in joining the class.
As part of the clinical integration program, they can attend their first 12
weeks of classes for free, but after that they must join the fitness center and
pay the monthly membership fee to attend.
For more information on the program, call the fitness center at (601)
553-6622.
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