Livestrong and Pedaling for Parkinson's with YMCA of Grand Rapids

Nave Nykerk, Association Health and Wellness Director at the YMCA, Erich Pagel, Pedaling for Parkinson's instructor, and Paul Grady, Pedaling for Parkinson's Participant join us to discuss the benefits of Livestrong and Pedaling for Parkinson's and the impact it has in the community. 

More information can be found here: https://www.grymca.org/livestrong/

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
I love the leading of the word in power. This
is West Michigan's Morning News. Steve Kelly, Brett, Takita, Lawrence
Smith in the studio and it's a packed house. Dave
Nikirk is with US Association Health and Wellness Director at
the YMCA. Eric Pagel is here who was a participant
and instructor for peddling for Parkinson's and so to Paul Grady,

(00:22):
welcome everybody to the program.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Thanks for having us.

Speaker 1 (00:25):
We're going to start with you, Dave. This is something
that is so near and dear to our hearts because
it gives hope. Talk to us to those who aren't
familiar about Livestrong and peddling for parkinson programs through the YMCA.

Speaker 2 (00:40):
Absolutely would love to. So. Both of these programs are
part of our evidence based health programs. They are twelve
week programs that we offer to our community. Is a
free program for anyone in our community. Our Livestrong program
specifically is designed for cancer survivors, so adult survivors of
cancer anywhere in their journey of cancer, they can come in.

(01:00):
It's a twelve week program under the instruction of a
certified certified instructor. They perform small group training with the
main goal of restoring their strength and also gaining some
emotional support. It's all about community. It's all about supporting
not only the individual, but also their care providers and
their family as well. We recognize that the cancer journey

(01:21):
is not just about the individual, but it's a team effort.

Speaker 1 (01:24):
And Peddling for Parkinson's is a similar journey.

Speaker 2 (01:27):
Very much similar. Is a cycling based program in our
cycling studio where individuals battling Parkinson's come in and they
do a class to low intensity class, but it really
works on the cadence of the rhythm and it really helps.
The research has proven that it helps to limit some
of the symptoms by up to thirty five percent.

Speaker 3 (01:46):
Wowow, you talked about community and Paul, you're actually a
participant in Peddling for Parkinson's. Can you tell us a
little bit about your journey and what you would say
to someone who's gone through something similar and how much
the program has helped.

Speaker 4 (01:58):
Sure, I was struggling. I was diagnosed with Parkinson's in
twenty twenty three, and I was doing a group exercise
thing and I was told about December about this program.
YMCA had about pedaling for Parkinson's and I was reluctant
at first, but I went into it, and you go

(02:22):
the first time you get hooked. It's not only you
know we talked about this before, it's the support group
is unbelievable in West Michigan for Parkinson's, and I look
at it. I've gained a lot of good friends in
this program. And the most important thing, I feel good

(02:44):
I wake up. I can't wait till Wednesday mornings and
Friday mornings I get to go and work out and
work out with a bunch of good people.

Speaker 5 (02:52):
Eric, you're an instructor for people like Paul in these
classes come in. So what's it like for you when
you hear Paul talk about that, but you see the
experience firsthand and what it means for these folks.

Speaker 6 (03:05):
Well, I feel blessed and I am grateful to be
part of this community. I'm grateful when they all come
and we're a group. We ride, but we chat, we
encourage one another, and I'm encouraged by them and I
just feel blessed to get the chance to lead that group,
put the music together and encourage them.

Speaker 5 (03:28):
What's exciting too?

Speaker 4 (03:29):
Real?

Speaker 5 (03:29):
Quick? I want you to come at AS is just
across the street basically where they're going through research and everything.
I mean right here. To be so close to that
and we're tapping into that with the Van Adel Institute
has to be very cool too and give hope to everybody.

Speaker 6 (03:44):
Well, I'm encouraged by that, and I'm encouraged having led
now for several months with the group to see changes,
to see some of the group members be stronger, be
more confident, and build those relationships too. The physical and
the social and the mental are all tied together, and
I just get to be part of it.

Speaker 1 (04:05):
You know, all of this is free to participants. Peddling
for Parkinson's and Livestrong. It's important that you all listening
to the program help talk to us a little bit
about you know, the YMCA is a nonprofit right, so
talk to us a little bit about the importance of
us helping out.

Speaker 2 (04:22):
Absolutely as you guys got to hear the story from Paul,
how about how impactful these programs are. They're one hundred
percent funded through the generous gifts of our community, so
it's tremendously important for us to continue receiving those funds
to offer this program. Those funds go directly towards the participants.
We also provide memberships for not just for the class,
but also for our YMC and membership as part of

(04:44):
this program as well for the participant and also the
family members as well.

Speaker 1 (04:48):
We're going to put a link so you can find
out more information about even donating in the podcast section
at woodradio dot com. Operators are standing by, as we
like to say on the program, the work you're doing.
Dave Nikirk, thank you for coming in today. Also, it
takes a lot of guts to share. Eric Pagel on

(05:08):
the program and Paul Grady, thank you both for coming
in today too.

Speaker 2 (05:12):
Thank you, thanks for having us me