Fighting back against Parkinson’s
Members of the Concrete Club in action at Nuki’s Gym. Photo / Dan Hutchinson
Those living with Parkinson’s in Taupō are beating the odds – quite literally – thanks to an innovative exercise and social club.
Every week members of the Concrete Club can do boxing sessions, spin classes, water exercises, coffee catchups (the Coffee Chicks and the Barista Boys) and other social or fitness programmes.
There’s even a Jarmy Army that helps out with those who are very unwell, or can’t keep up with physical tasks around the home.
Monthly meetings draw a crowd of at least 30 people – those with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones.
The “spark” behind the programme – exercise coach and consultant Wendy Chrisp – says it has developed into quite a community.
“This particular group of roosters were and are, so hungry for more exercise that what started as a simple boxing programme is now multi-dimensional.
“And I think with these guys, apart from a few more grey hairs and some putting on weight, some losing weight, in terms of the Parkinson's symptoms, I can hand on heart say there's been very little change in eight years. And yeah, all the research would support ‘the more exercise the better’.”
Member Pete Dawson says the sessions are the highlight of the week for most members and he exercises most days.
“If I'm away, I really notice a difference in movement. You've got to use it continuously with Parkinson's. You’ve just got to do the yards.”
Nuki’s Gym provides the facilities for the boxing at a very low rate for the group and help out with the training side of things.
“I think they've been amazed at a bunch of these old farts getting out there and pounding the hell out of the bags,” Pete says.
And if it wasn’t for the social network created by the group, he would have much less social contact.
“It's a fairly high trust model. And it's developed, I think, with the intention of helping people with Parkinson's. But it's done more than that. We actually like each other, we trust each other.”
The club is also for family of those with Parkinson’s.
Wendy says the Jarmy (Pyjama) Army came about because some of their members needed extra help at home with their loved one.
“And they just said, ‘hey, is there anyone that can help?’ And I just happened to ring a few contacts in town, and they just happened to be nurses. And so it was that we were with them when they passed.
“It's just another little sideline that has evolved from the Parkinson's relationship. We've now got a chap who does people's lawns, still looking for someone that can do computer support for people.
“Parkinson's can be quite isolating. People aren't driving.”
She said the other side of it was being able to share information about how to access medical services and what is available.
Navigating a stretched health system can be quite a daunting challenge for new members.
“They need to know there's an amazing support group here that they can come into at any level. Whether it be from a partner wanting support, caring, sharing stories. Whether it be physically … the more they move the better they are,” Wendy says.
“We just don't want people at home isolated thinking I've been diagnosed and I just want to sit at home … We want them putting gloves on and getting into it and contributing.”
To get involved email digdeep@xtra.co.nz or phone 021 244 5324.