Parkinson’s disease has finally met its match. An Aurora boxing club is putting up its fists and fighting back against this dreaded disease.

Jesse “the Law” Boxing Club (JTL-BC) has been in existence for over 21 years. This club is now hoping to offer a wellness program to Aurora area residents with Parkinson’s disease.

Numerous reports validate the use of boxing in Parkinson’s therapy. CBS News ran an extensive report with correspondent Leslie Stahl about her husband’s fight with the disease, using boxing to slow down the progression of it. (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fighting-back-against-parkinsons-in-the-ring/)

There are only a limited number of gyms in the country that use boxing as a tool for Parkinson’s therapy. The club feels extremely humbled and excited to be a part of this initiative.

At the end of April, they will send four of their coaches to Indianapolis to become certified in helping Parkinson’s patients. This will be a three-day trip, with an intense schedule. The club needs community involvement to send them. With travel expenses and the training program, they estimate the cost to be about $3,000. They are asking for community support to help them fight Parkinson’s. Visit www.gofundme.com/Jesse-the-law-fightsparkinsons/ to help the club initiate a May start-up.

JTL-BC opened in 1998 by coach Jesse Torres (a retired Aurora Police Department officer and also a retired professional boxer) to provide Aurora youth a safe place from negativity, drugs and gangs. With the support of the Fox Valley Park District, the current program is housed at the Copley Boxing and Training Center at 517 N. Union Street in Aurora. It provides underprivileged youth and residents of Aurora a place where they can participate in physical fitness at no cost while learning the sport of boxing.

JTL-BC is a Registered Non-profit Organization. For more information please call Program Director Uni Camacho (630) 803-2585.

Photo: Randy Cagwin of Aurora, a future participant in Parkinson’s boxing therapy, and JTL-BC Program Director Uni Camacho are getting ready to hit the punching bag to fight Parkinson’s Disease. Funding is still need for the anticipated May 2017 start-up. Visit www.gofundme.com/Jesse-the-law-fightsparkinsons/ . (Photo John Ross)

John Ross

John Ross on Saturday, April 23, 2016 launched XPian News, a part of  Daybreak Communications, Inc. Ross is the facilitator of Aurora Christian Ministry Network (ACMN) and a member of the Fox Valley Christian Ministerial Alliance (FVCMA). He serves on the boards of Wayside Cross Ministries and the Kiwanis Club of Aurora. As a follower of Jesus, he has been for some 40 years a member of First Presbyterian Church - Aurora. He has an M.A. - Christian Leadership from Wheaton College Graduate School and undergraduate at Trinity International University.  editor@xpian.news