PADUCAH — A local Paducah gym, Tenacity Training, partnered with the Rock Steady Boxing 270 nonprofit in order to help provide those diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease a physical outlet for them to gather and fight back though rock climbing.
Tenacity Training Owner Nicole Martinez said the event often runs monthly and offers those suffering from Parkinson’s an opportunity to use the gym’s facilities with the help of volunteers from a variety of therapies facilitating their training. She said that one cool thing about rock climbing in particular for Parkinson’s patients, is that it can help assist the formation of neural pathways. “It can really provide another layer of support to their physical activity, to just be able to work through the disease,” she said.
Tenacity Training Owner, Nicole Martinez.
Tyler Schmidt
She said the partnership arose about a year ago, and with the start of April marking the beginning of Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Martinez said that it’s important to spread awareness, not only for the sake of individuals suffering, but for research and community building.
An older gentlemen attends the event with the support of loved ones and volunteers.
Tyler Schmidt
Martinez said it’s been a pleasure to watch people walk into the gym and to leave inspired, accomplished, and encouraged to achieve any feat that might present itself.
A man climbs a rock climbing wall.
Tyler Schmidt
Brittany Triplett with Rock Steady Boxing 270 said the organization is all about building community and helping those with Parkinson’s Disease to live with a better quality of life. She said the organization does that through resources, education, and different activities such as no-contact boxing in an attempt to redefine public perception of the disease while pushing the limits of what those diagnosed can do.
Rock Steady Boxing 270 Organizer, Brittany Triplett.
Tyler Schmidt
She said April being Parkinson’s Awareness Month means a time for the community to come together in support of those with Parkinson’s, who she said fight every day. She said it’s important to support them as a community in order to help them in their fight against the disease.
Triplett said that one way people can help to get involved and spread awareness is by joining the nonprofit’s next event. Rock Steady Boxing 270’s biggest fundraiser of the year is coming up on June 6, for the “Fighting Back Against Parkinson’s” 5k and fun-run. For more information, visit the organization’s Facebook page.