Main Street Gym has kicked off a fundraising campaign for Parkinson’s Disease. Wendy Black, owner of the gym, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s several years ago and believes it is vital to educate people about the disease and raise money for the cure.
Wendy is producing a 2006 calendar using her members as models. Gym members agreed to shed their clothes to “Pose for Parkinson’s.” Gym equipment was strategically placed around the individuals to give the calendar a new twist and emphasize the importance of exercise when dealing with Parkinson’s. Exercise is the best relief of depression that follows the disease and helps alleviate the tremors. For every person diagnosed with PD, there are two morepeople who have it but have not yet been diagnosed. “Working out has helped me enormously and I want to help others get the benefits as well,” says Black. Parkinson’s Disease affects people in different ways but occurs evenly across all occupational and socioeconomic groups.
Through personal training, the gym offers workout programs for people with the disease. Wendy also gives of her time to counsel and work with individuals who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s as well as Multiple Sclerosis.
Wendy has operated a business in St. Charles since 1980. She was only 21 years old when she and her husband, chris, opened Cafe Beignet on South Main. Chris went on to start his computer business and Wendy ran the Cafe. It very quickly became one of the hot spots in St. Charles because of the personal service Wendy so easily gives her customers. She is extremely hard working, honest and has a great sense of humor she loves to share with those around her.
Wendy started working out shortly after opening the Cafe because she needed the stress relief of the hectic restaurant business. After 18 years, Wendy sold the restaurant and her her certification for personal training and opened Main Street Gym on North Main.
One year after opening the gym, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. It was a blow to her and Chris, especially because of how active she is and how dedicated she has been to working out and eating healthy. They didn’t know what Parkinson’s was and learned it is a deficiency in the brain in the production of dopamine.
Ironically, working out regularly is the best thing anyone with PD can due to help the symptoms. Depression is very common among people with PD, but Wendy’s determination and uplifting attitude towards life in general has come out even stronger.
She has worked with clients that have Parkinson’s and M.S. and is encouraging everyone that weight training needs to be incorporated in their daily lives, no matter how old! The benefits definitely outweigh the monetary output.
Wendy preaches one less soda a day or one less trip to the store for stuff you really don’t need, and there is your gym payment for the whole month.
wendy’s strong desire to help find a cure for PD has prompted her to make a calendar of Main Street Gym with the proceeds from the calendar going to AAPDA. She used real members of the gym and they are celebrating their bodies by giving up their clothes to raise money for Parkinson’s.
Wendy’s Main Street Gym has a goal to raise $5,000 by the end of this year. For additional information about the fundraising campaign or calendar sales, stop by Main Street Gym, 334 N. Main Street or call 636-946-4100. Calendar orders are now being accepted. Proceeds will be donated to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association.
