About Us
Rock Steady Boxing is a not-for-profit organisation in Widnes and Warrington
Our aim is to provide fitness classes to those with Parkinson’s to enhance their quality of life and start to feel and function better.
We provide an exercise group for people with Parkinson’s disease.
Our lead coach, Tommy is a qualified instructor who also has Parkinson’s himself, so he understands first-hand the issues faced and the benefits of the exercise in fighting back against some of the symptoms of the disease.
Rock Steady Boxing is open to everyone with Parkinson’s Disease
Through the exercise programme, members will be able to improve balance, posture, movement,dexterity, strength, motor skills, agility, help address the tremors and overall fitness levels and voice activation using planned non-contact boxing drills within a friendly environment.
Our Vision
The Vision of Rock Steady Boxing Widnes and Warrington is to maximize the mental, emotional, and physical potential of people with Parkinson disease throughout their every day lives. The program helps them to adapt, eliminating the commonly occurring negative self-talk or self –image accompanying a degenerative, presently incurable illness. We emphasize the enhancements possible to their quality of life and ability to enjoy activities of daily living. This is accomplished through an intensive and rigorous regime and plan of exercise delivered in a welcoming, professional, and supportive environment.
In addition, bringing people together enables them to share ideas, tips, news and reviews on all things related to their disease. There is a mountain of ideas and products out there but speaking to people who have personal experience, rather than a sales pitch, can make the world of difference.
By coming together, we also help families to be open about their feelings and issues. This helps families to feel less isolated and also speaking with others and knowing you’re not alone can help towards improving mental health.
The classes are aimed at all stages of the disease (from those who have just received a diagnosis to those who have more progressive symptoms). This means we can provide practical and emotional support from a very early stage for individuals. Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease can be an immensely painful experience
Testimonials
Our group helps people to realise there are actions we can take to help fight against the symptoms and improve our quality of life.
More About Rock Steady
RSBWW provided 9 sessions a week across both Widnes & Warrington sites, for people with every stage and ability of Parkinson’s, that are conducted in a boxing gym setting. Men & women, age ranging from their late 30’s to early 80’s, serving 90 plus boxers a month.
More classes are being added in the future, so watch this space!
For those in advanced stages of Parkinson’s Disease, we have helpers, a small group of volunteers & Corner-men/ women working hand in hand with the coaches during the sessions. The volunteers help us to develop the group so we can offer more of what our members need or want, these are people either with the disease or a carer/family member – who help us to co-ordinate the classes. For those with a diagnosis, it can also help to give them a sense of purpose and a role.
The discovery of a cure may be many years away, but in the last 4 years, evidence has shown that progress is being made in all stages of Parkinson’s by those participating in the Rock Steady Boxing program.
With continued support through gym/membership fees, fund raising and funding, we aspire to being able to support our own Parkinson hub, where not only will this be the ‘Home’ of Rock Steady Boxing Widnes and Warrington, but to provide a place where all outside Parkinson professionals, such as physiotherapists, speech therapists, consultants and Parkinson’s liaison groups can have a central base for all Parkinson sufferers across the Northwest.
THE BENEFITS OF BOXING FOR PARKINSON’S
Although it may seem out of the ordinary to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) with boxing, it’s a trend that is quickly growing. Boxing is one of the world’s oldest sports, and it offers physical and mental challenges for all people, including those with Parkinson’s. An exercise programme like boxing can help to improve balance, posture, speed, strength, hand-eye coordination, and overall quality of life in those living with the trials of PD.