Scarborough Parkinson's patients pack a punch at boxing club

Members keep punching at Westway Boxing Club

A boxing coach who is offering training sessions for people with Parkinson's disease has praised his contenders for "always pushing forward".

Ryan Ashworth, of Westway Boxing Club in Scarborough, launched the Wednesday morning sessions after meeting patients at a Parkinson's coffee morning.

Mr Ashworth said boxing training was "huge" in America, helping patients improve their strength and mobility.

He said: "It's got everybody strong and everyone's improved."

The sessions have eight regular members, but Mr Ashworth is confident of attracting more as word spreads.

The sessions, which are open to anyone with the condition, include fitness, pad and bag work and movement drills.

Malcolm Hoddy, 76, has been going to the sessions in Eastfield for six months and said the results had been amazing.

Malcolm Hoddy said the sessions were "absolutely brilliant"

He told the BBC: "My footsteps have got better, my strength in my left arm is a lot better.

"It keeps the body and the mind working. My consultant says it's one of the best thing that's happened for us.

"Some days you come for a bit of a fun and other days you call the punchbag Parkinson's and knock it out, punch it and get rid of your stress.

"It's great for relief, winding down and taking frustration out on. It's absolutely brilliant."

Ryan Ashworth said there was "no giving up" among the members

Mr Ashworth said his grandfather had Parkinson's, and he was inspired to set up the sessions after noting their success in the US.

He said: "We haven't recreated the wheel, we're just doing boxing training.

"Their strength has improved, their mobility has improved. If they have a weaker side we've worked on that and made it better.

"And we just like to have fun. They're just the most fabulous people ever. There's no giving up in them. They're always pushing forward and trying hard."

Chris Huffington, 65, was diagnosed six years ago. Being ex-Navy and a former PE teacher, she was used to being physically fit and strong.

Chris Huffington was formerly in the Royal Navy

She said: "I first noticed it when I was walking the coastal path with my best friend and my hand was making a clicking noise.

"I realised I had a bit of a tremor but I put it down to I hadn't had enough to eat or whatever and we were walking 15 miles a day. But it stayed so I went to the doctors and they said 'Oh, you've got Parkinson's'.

"It's just not how I foresaw my life panning out. I've always been involved in sport, kept myself fit, never done drugs, rarely drink. I live on my own so I need to be able to look after myself as long as possible.

"Boxing was one of the few sports I didn't do back in the day when I was in the armed forces, but it's good fun. I've been here every week since October and it's amazing to see the difference in some of the guys from week one to now, you wouldn't believe the difference."

Parkinson's UK said research had found "offering group-based, Parkinson's-specific boxing sessions that are adaptable, varied and that encourage social support and networking may be beneficial to increasing motivation for physical activity in people with Parkinson's".