In honor of April being Parkinson’s Awareness month, recognizing the 5-year anniversary of our Rock Steady Boxing program, and celebrating my 5th year as a Rock Steady Boxing coach, I’d like to share my personal story about Parkinson’s Disease and the impact it has had on my life.

Rock Steady Boxing is all about picking up the gloves and fighting back. “When you’re in this class, you’re doing something yourself to defeat Parkinson’s," said Charlie Heidemann, a Rock Steady Boxing Participant. "You’re making yourself feel better through the exercises and the various things that we do.”

A class at Western Racquet & Fitness Club is helping people with Parkinson's Disease one punch at a time. It's called Rock Steady Boxing. Parkinson's Disease is a neurological diagnosis dealing with a lack of dopamine in the brain, or the inability for the brain to use dopamine effectively, according to Ashley Verbeten, a physical therapist at Prevea Therapy Institute who works with Parkinson's patients.

Charles Heidemann is no bully, but he'll proudly throw a punch to take down Parkinson's disease. Heidemann, 74, of Ashwaubenon, is one of 14 participants in Rock Steady Boxing at Western Racquet & Fitness Club. The program, a partnership between the club and Prevea Health, is a boxing-inspired fitness class designed specifically to improve the quality of life for those living with Parkinson's Disease.