LUBBOCK -
Muhammad Ali's greatest fight may not have been the "Thrilla in Manilla," but it may have been his fight against Parkinson's Disease.
"The Greatest," as he was called, was diagnosed with the disease in the 80s and is given credit for bringing it into the spotlight.
"When Muhammad Ali passed away the other day, immediately my phone began ringing from people wanting to know about Parkinson's," said Jo Bidwell, director of Southwest Parkinson's Society.
She said awareness and education are key when it comes to this disease.
"They're kind of a forgotten group of people," she said. "People like to raise money for children and animals; the majority of our patients are 60 or older and most people don't really care about people that are older."
No financial support prevents people like Debbie Moore from getting the help she needs. Moore was diagnosed with the neurological disease in her 40's but she refuses to let it get the best of her.
"If I don't move, if I don't do something everyday, I'm stiff as a board," Moore said. "And I'm like, OK, don't complain, just go out and exercise."
For those with Parkinson's, staying active is one of the few things that helps, so Katy Kopec runs a program that helps those like Moore to continue and exercise.
"One thing about boxing is that it requires a strong mind and so our members come here and their fed physically, they're fed mentally, socially, and they have the momentum to stay in," Kopec said. "Parkinson's tends to make people slow down, use smaller movements, and boxing really kinda reinforces those large movements as well as good, stable balance."
Dr. Katie Hendley said programs like boxing provide exercise which is crucial.
"They have a longer time till their first fall, they have a longer time until needing assistive devices to walk, so we are appreciating the effects that exercise is having and it is definitely positive for the mobility and the outcomes of Parkinson's," Dr. Hendley said.
Even though Moore vows to always fight, she has lost something that will likely never come back, her career at Midlands College.
"I loved talking, I see anybody I talk, I'm a talkaholic, that's what I am," Moore said. "I may not drink, I may not smoke, but I do talk and I love it and I miss the world of people."
As Moore continues to fight, she said those facing a Parkinson's diagnosis don't need to lose hope.
"I want to encourage that person to exercise, I want to encourage that person to know that they don't have to turn into a vegetable," she said. "That life can go on even if you do have the disease."
