ONE IN A MILLION
I remember my first day at Rock Steady Boxing Green Valley like it was yesterday, even though it has been two years ago. I was still numb from being diagnosed with Parkinson’s when I showed up to be evaluated. If I remember correctly it was just myself, Martie Vlcek, and Jen Nash. They put me through a tough workout that damn near scared me off, but I knew at that moment I had found a new home, yet even then I did not understand what this program would come to mean to me.
My biggest fear when I started at RSBGV was whether or not the program would survive. Many days it would only be myself and one or two other boxers, sometimes just me. To Martie’s credit she never canceled a class even though it was so small. I remember going on vacation and doing RSB in Santa Barbara and Carlsbad, I was stunned at the large class size, twelve in Santa Barbara, and sixteen in Carlsbad. When I was asked how large our group was, I answered “much smaller”. But those workouts provided me with some much-needed insight into what RSB really is.
In both locations I was treated like I was apart of their group from the onset. They were kind, warm, and welcoming and that’s when I then realized that RSB is not just a Parkinson’s workout group, it is a community. It is an island of peace in an ocean of uncertainty, a place that no matter the odds we all win. In the world of Parkinson’s, the feeling of normalcy is priceless, and the sound of laughter is our reward for a job well done. It is hard to over state the importance of having a support group that feels the world through same tremors and lives with the same fears as you.
Fast forward two years to where RSBGV stands today, large classes are now a common place and the cast of characters is as funny as they are diverse. The RSBGV program has grown beyond my wildest dreams with new boxers arriving almost weekly. I have seen tears replaced by smiles, and I have seen emotional mountains moved by shear force of will. Is RSB the cure for Parkinson’s disease, sadly no, I wish it was that simple. But this program and many like it provide a place and a method for those fighting this disease to live an enjoyable life, and in the end that’s what it’s all about.
A special thanks to Martie, thank you for your hard work and dedication in promoting Rock Steady Boxing. If your success is measured in smiles, then congratulations for a job well done.
by Mark Hitechew