{"id":111294,"date":"2025-09-01T17:47:17","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T17:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/111294\/"},"modified":"2025-09-01T17:47:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T17:47:17","slug":"greenfield-man-fighting-back-against-parkinsons-with-boxing-and-basketball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/111294\/","title":{"rendered":"Greenfield man fighting back against Parkinson\u2019s with boxing and basketball"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENFIELD \u2014 For 54-year-old Bill McCleery, a Parkinson\u2019s disease diagnosis wasn\u2019t a reason to slow down\u2014it was a reason to keep moving. He picked up a basketball and boxing gloves.<\/p>\n

The Greenfield resident was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson\u2019s around 50, but he noticed symptoms years earlier.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my mid to late 40s, I had some odd things happen like I’d have double vision sometimes and I experienced a lot of anxiety and fatigue,\u201d McCleery said. \u201cI mean, it’s throwing a wrench into my routines to some extent.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, McCleery was determined not to let the neurodegenerative disease dictate his lifestyle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThankfully, I feel like I can still do everything I want to do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8801.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Woods, Naja<\/p>\n

McCleery turned to two sports\u2014basketball, his first passion, and boxing\u2014to stay active.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s now a regular at Rock Steady Boxing, a gym specifically designed to help people with Parkinson\u2019s improve strength, coordination and confidence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had always played basketball, so it was easy for me\u2026 But I never boxed, so it’s kind of a whole new challenge,\u201d McCleery said.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8864.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Woods, Naja<\/p>\n

Rock Steady Boxing<\/a> combines physical and cognitive training for people living with Parkinson\u2019s. <\/p>\n

William Lee, a former professional boxer, is now a head coach at the gym\u2019s headquarters in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe work everything from head to toe: cognitive functioning, muscle development, strengthening, balance, hand and eye coordination, focus, the drive, the will to never quit,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n

Preston Moon, another coach at Rock Steady and a longtime boxer, has been living with Parkinson\u2019s for more than 25 years and has been a part of the gym for the last 16.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8874.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Woods, Naja<\/p>\n

\u201cIt saved my life,\u201d Moon said. \u201cIt helps us develop new neural pathways to re-engage those muscle groups that our brain has been lying to that we can’t use anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parkinson\u2019s is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and coordination. While there\u2019s no cure, physical activity is considered one of the most effective ways to manage symptoms and potentially slow progression.<\/p>\n

\u201cMovement is the best thing that you can do,\u201d said Gabrielle Perruzzi of the Parkinson\u2019s Foundation Midwest Chapter. \u201cParkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the neurons in the brain\u2026 Progression of the symptoms varies from person to person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Perruzzi added they recommend 2.5 hours of light aerobic exercise a week for those with the disease.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8804.jpg\"<\/p>\n

Woods, Naja<\/p>\n

McCleery told WRTV staying active has helped him feel both physically and mentally stronger and he\u2019s encouraging others with Parkinson\u2019s to find what activity works for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can actually get better week to week and get stronger, and that’s a morale booster, and that’s like a mental\u2014it’s therapeutic mentally,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have a battle on your hands, but fight it and be aggressive about it, and just each day wake up with that purpose and desire to be stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

McCleery also encourages others to join him in movement.<\/p>\n

Several of the men he plays basketball with also have Parkinson’s.<\/p>\n

Upcoming Event<\/p>\n

McCleery is a part of the Parkinson’s Foundation and is currently raising money for the organization’s second annual Moving Day Walk<\/a> in Indianapolis on Sept. 20 at Conner Prairie. <\/p>\n

The event raises funds for research and honors individuals and families affected by Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n

The walk begins at 9 a.m. and is open to the public.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"GREENFIELD \u2014 For 54-year-old Bill McCleery, a Parkinson\u2019s disease diagnosis wasn\u2019t a reason to slow down\u2014it was a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":111295,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[574],"tags":[64,63,726,85],"class_list":["post-111294","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-basketball","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-basketball","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=111294"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111294\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/111295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=111294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=111294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=111294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}