This is a post written by Anne Adams, a first time Guest Adventurer and Empty Nester. Her program for people with Parkinson’s Disease is so remarkable that I begged her to tell her story! Please share this inspiring article with your friends and family, you could change someone’s life. I have volunteered at a class and have observed first hand the progress these fighters have realized. I guarantee it will astound you and warm your heart. – Suzanne
Best Volunteer Job In The World…..Apply now!
I really just want to stop here and let you read the rest below but I feel I first must explain why I am appearing in this great Blog…Bare with me.
I am lazy. While I never pictured myself sunning at a Country Club after my kids left home, a Diet Coke, chocolate chip cookies and an occasional Dr. Phil Show sounded right up my alley. Who could blame me and most importantly… Who would know? Well, I would. I knew a few things about myself and felt compelled to make a list of “dream jobs” to contemplate. I love to exercise but only if I have a friend to exercise with. I love being with people that make me want to be a better person and I love wearing comfortable shoes and clothes. What kind of job description is this??? God answered my question in a way I could not have expected.
My dad and mom live in Indianapolis, Indiana and my dad has Parkinson’s Disease (PD). I watched my dad go from healthy and strong to slumped in a wheelchair barely able to move. I thought I was losing him three years ago and then a fantastic program changed his life…Rock Steady Boxing. It is a program for people fighting Parkinson’s disease and it has been a lifesaver and a Godsend. I have my dad back with only age chasing him down now…like all of us.
Okay, if you are expecting the typical job offer you will not find it here. However, the benefits are above anyone’s expectations and the friendships feel like blood relations. This is truly the most loving, kind, hopeful thing you could do with your empty nest time…I promise!
Last May I opened Rock Steady Boxing SC which is an affiliate of Rock Steady Boxing in Indiana. This program is designed to help with the side effects of PD as well as slow it’s progression. The athletes have all been diagnosed with this horrible disease and are determined to do all they can to fight back…they are literally fighting their disease.
What is Rock Steady Boxing?
It is a kick-ass non-contact boxing class that trains the athletes minds and bodies. It challenges the brain to take on 3-5 tasks at a time when the PD brain only wants to do one. People who come to the gym shuffling will high step their way through a 90 minute class and put all of us empty nesters to shame…Seriously. I have never been around such tough competitors and I married a Division 1 College Football player.
Camaraderie, competition and ability meld together to give an experience to the volunteer that words just cannot describe. These athletes have bodies that hurt every moment of every day and the notion to quit trying is ever present…Yet, no one quits…No one wants to. They all come with a common opponent and are determined to win at all costs. Words cannot capture the feeling that permeates the gym. I have never experienced anything like it. Hope…Joy…Love…all of these are visibly present in the 90 minute classes that take place every week at a Boxing gym in Costa Mesa…It is just awesome.
I’d like to invite any of you that want to experience what I am talking about to come and watch a class. We are growing and expectant about what the future holds including our newest venture…looking for our own space to build out a gym so that we can offer many, many more classes. Want to get in shape? Look for a class for volunteers to open up once we have achieved this goal.
I love that I get to talk to you about this unique opportunity. Thank you Suzanne for building a platform so that we can share great ideas to make our empty nest years more fun than we expected…You are wonderful! Want to come over for a D-coke, cookies and Dr. Phil sometime? I still have plenty of time to fit that in too.
Cheers!
Anne Adams
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One more thing from Anne!
I am looking for several people who have an interest in Parkinson’s Disease: I need someone who has legal knowledge about running a non profit (attorney with experience is ideal), someone who is well connected in the community who would like to help raise awareness of the Rock Steady Boxing SC program, someone who would be interested in fund raising to help with our expansion of classes and new location, someone who wants to make a life changing difference by supporting a program that helps people right now struggling with the disease.
What a great idea!
Thank you for reading Carole, I hope this post reaches other people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.
Great story about a great program! I’m so blessed to be a volunteer in class and see the physical and emotional benefits experienced by all the athletes. Anne, the boxers, the volunteers and the athletes truly inspire me every class. Thanks, Suzanne for posting this story.
Everyone at Rock Steady is so impressive and inspiring! From Anne and the volunteers to the courageous “fighters”. I loved every minute of being there. I can’t wait to return.
What a wonderful story! this truly makes me contemplate how I’m spending my spare time. I feel inspired to do something to make a difference after reading this 🙂
That is so great to hear! I am sure most of us can squeeze out a few more minutes each month to volunteer. Thank you for commenting!
First let me say, I was diagnosed with PD, June 2016. I never heard of Rock Steady. I praise God for my sister Gwen in San Francisco. She heard about Rock Steady and immediately called me. I!m Shirley & I live in Colorado. I though, maybe this will help me. I ran for my iPad. I’m glad and blessed that I found Rock Steady. Congratulations & God bless every individual who is benefiting from this amazing program.
Is there a location in or near Denver, CO. I pray there is, I really need this. In the meantime I’m going to search the internet, please help me find you in CO
God bless
I am not sure if there is a Rock Steady in Colorado, but you could reach out to Anne who wrote this article, she may have some answers for you.
Wow, who knew this even existed? What a fantastic idea. So empowering!
Lois: The progress they have made is astounding! It is such positive nurturing environment. You never know if a new idea is going to work, but it is worth a try!
What an amazing program! I am touched by what you have written here and what you are doing. It’s heartwarming to read what great things this program has done for your Dad!
Thank you Nancie!Share it with others, you never know who is suffering from this awful disease.
Sounds like a wonderful program~
Yes! Thank you for reading!
Love this blog and Anne’s story. Very impressed by both of you 🙂
Thank you for commenting Kelly!! Anne is doing amazing things!
Thanks for sharing this interesting guest post.
Thank you Patti!
I love the smiling faces. My grandfather had Parkinson’s disease and one of the hardest things was having him lose his smile—stony facies being a hallmark of the disease. This sounds like a literally amazing program.
Suzanne – I was blown away. Some of them went from a very slow walk to jumping rope! Their perseverance was so impressive. Thank you for reading and commenting!
What an inspiring program for people fighting Parkinson’s disease.
It is an amazing program, thank you for reading and commenting!
I am 65 years old, I was diagnosed of Parkinsons disease at the age of 59. I had severe calf pain, muscle pain, slurred speech, frequent falls, loss of balance, difficulty getting up from sitting position. i was on Carbidopa and Pramipexole for two (2) years, as the disease progressed my symptoms worsened, with my neurologist guidance i started on natural PD TREATMENT from Rich Herbal Garden. (ww w. richherbalgardens.c om). The treatment was effectively for my Parkinson’s disease, most of the symptoms simply vanished within the first 3 months on the treatment, i feel better now than I have felt in years, i can feel my strength and the tremors are gone.
I am so glad to hear you are doing so well!
After my Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis at the age of 59. I had severe calf pain, muscle pain, slurred speech, frequent falls, loss of balance, difficulty getting up from sitting position. i was on Carbidopa and Pramipexole for two (2) years, as the disease progressed my symptoms worsened, with my neurologist guidance i started on natural PD TREATMENT from Rich Herbal Garden. (ww w. richherbalgardens.c om). The treatment was effectively for my Parkinson’s disease, most of the symptoms simply vanished within the first 3 months on the treatment, i feel better now than I have felt in years, i can feel my strength and the tremors are gone.
I am so glad the hear that you are better!