LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Twelve years ago, Doug Pifer was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. 

What You Need To Know

  • Doug Pifer founded TKO Parkinson's, an exercise program helping those with the disease stay active 

  • Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by a gradual loss of nerve cells in the brain

  • The group meets three times weekly and incorporates movements such as stretching, exercise balls, weights and boxing techniques

  • TKO Flight Club raised $40,000 for the program’s operating cost for the entire year, allowing the program to continue to be free

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by a gradual loss of nerve cells in the brain. After his diagnosis, Pifer said he started looking for different avenues to help.

“I didn't want it to take me down, so I was looking for exercises," Pifer said. "It's proven in research that if you exercise and are active, you can slow down the progression of the disease in your body." 

To help himself and others, Pifer created TKO Parkinson’s.

“Parkinson's people need to move, be active, exercise; they need to be involved," Pifer said. "A lot of times we don't. We shy away from that kind of stuff because we shake. This exercise program brings people out and has basically become a community of exercisers to fight back Parkinson's." 

Fitness instructor Bob Keene said Parkinson’s causes deterioration of motor skills, balance, speech and sensory function. The group uses different movements such as stretching, exercise balls, weights and boxing techniques. 

Keene said they move every muscle in the body, including their vocal muscles.

“We smile; we animate," Keene said. "We articulate ... a lot of times, as a disease progresses, sometimes we get quiet or we lose expression." 

TKO Parkinson’s is a free exercise program thanks to donors such as TKO Flight Club. Brian Helton, vice President of TKO Flight Club, said last year the group raised $40,000 for the program’s operating cost for the entire year.

“We've been doing bourbon events to raise money for people in our community fighting Parkinson's," Helton said. "All we want to do is just make sure these guys never have to pay for it, and then it's always free to help them fight." 

“It's good that we get this many people together that have Parkinson's and they can socialize with somebody else [who] knows and understands what you're going through," Pifer said. "We're a bunch of fighters working toward being functional, feeling better and staying active." 

Pifer said he hopes to continue to bring awareness to Parkinson’s and grow the TKO Parkinson’s community both in-person and over Zoom. 

The group is hosting the Kentucky Bourby fundraiser, full of bourbon tasting, bottle raffles, online auction, food, drinks and horse racing, April 26 at Progress Park in Louisville. Proceeds go to TKO Parkinson’s.

TKO Parkinson's meets every Monday and Wednesday in-person and over Zoom at Buechel Park Baptist Church from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., along with a Friday class only over Zoom.

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