New boxing classes to help fight Parkinson's disease

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. (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 St. 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.