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Submitted Photo\nMinister Jason Nixon presented Chris Campbell with the Minister\u00d5s Senior Service Award on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
By Lethbridge Herald on October 14, 2025.<\/p>\n
Submitted Photo
\nMinister Jason Nixon presented Chris Campbell with the Minister\u00d5s Senior Service Award on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
By Justin Seward<\/p>\n
Lethbridge Herald<\/p>\n
Lethbridge Dopamine Boxing Club\u2019s founder and head coach was the recipient of a provincial award recently.<\/p>\n
Chris Campbell was the recipient of the Minister\u2019s Senior Service Award from the province for his efforts in adaptive boxing for seniors\u2019 health and wellness through adaptive boxing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe award recognizes the impact of Dopamine Boxing\u2019s unique community program, which helps individuals living with Parkinson\u2019s disease and multiple sclerosis (MS) improve strength, balance, and confidence through non-contact boxing,\u201d as read in the release.<\/p>\n
Cambell did not realize the magnitude of the award until he arrived at the government buildings Oct. 1 in Edmonton to receive the award from the Honourable Jason Nixon, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was quite an honour to be sitting with people who are just achieving such incredible things and giving so much of themselves,\u201d said Campbell.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt like I needed to raise up my game because I wasn\u2019t really clear on why I was there. I love what I do but it\u2019s something I\u2019ve been doing for almost 10 years now \u2026 So, I never gave it much thought passed that and all of sudden we\u2019re getting this fancy award.\u201d<\/p>\n
Campbell\u2019s goal for years was trying to find ways to make sure the club stays open.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe (the club) moved so often until we found a temporary home at a friendship society,\u201d said Campbell.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was in question whether or not we were still (able) to continue it. So, now that we have our legs under us, we have a building, and I was gifted a bunch of money through another project to build a gym and so I\u2019m doing that. Now that we have a fixed location, we\u2019re able to expand our operation more.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Dopamine Boxing Club only offered programming three days a week until recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow that we\u2019re not-for-profit as of late last year, the executive director, \u2026 along with my volunteers and some of the spouses in supports of our participants have been stepping up to\u00a0 focus a little bit more on the things that take me away from expanding it,\u201d said Campbell.<\/p>\n
The specialized boxing club has also remained viable due to being volunteer driven, which has resulted in keeping costs low as fees still holding steady at $12 per class, which covers basic operating expenses.<\/p>\n
It has also benefitted from University of Lethbridge students who put in volunteer time with participants.<\/p>\n
The Dopamine Boxing Club has brought on their first paid coach, which will open two new classes and perhaps another two by the end of 2025.<\/p>\n
The club has 17 members.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re honored and grateful for this recognition, which celebrates how science and community working together can truly improve lives,\u201d said Dr. Gerlinde Metz, President of the Lethbridge Dopamine Boxing Club and holder of the Dr. Bryan Kolb Chair in Neuroscience at the Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Lethbridge in a release.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cThrough Dopamine Boxing, we\u2019ve seen people living with Parkinson\u2019s and multiple sclerosis gain strength, confidence, and renewed independence. When research and community come together, rehabilitation becomes more than therapy; it becomes connection, purpose, and progress.\u201d<\/p>\n