Meet the team helping Parkinson's sufferers enjoy life to the full

Tommy O’Connor and his team helps people to adapt to life, eliminating the commonly occurring negative self-talk or self–image that often accompanies a degenerative and currently incurable illness.

Here, in our latest Business of the Week feature, owner Tommy tells us how 18,000 people are diagnosed with Parkinson's each year with one in 37 people alive today receiving the diagnosis in their lifetime and the range of services provided in his Widnes venue as well as the soon-to-be open Warrington venue.

If you would like your business to feature as Business or Trader of the Week, email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk

Owner Tommy O'Connor

What’s your full name?

Tommy O’Connor

What’s the name of the business?

Off The Ropes (Rock Steady Boxing Widnes & Warrington RSBW&W)

What’s the address?

The Widnes base is UNIT 7, Teal Business Park, WA8 0ZA

The new Warrington base is Unit 6, Crown Street, Warrington, WA1 2AE

Are you the owner/manager?

I’m the owner.

When did you open the business?

We opened in Widnes in 2019 and we hope to have the Warrington site open in April this year.

Has it always been in the same location?

Yes.

Karn Oliver (coach)

Are you local to the area? Did you grow up here?

I’m local to Widnes, but our second coach Karn Oliver is local to Warrington, along with our secretary Michelle Fox.

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Tell me a bit about your business. What do you do? What services do you provide?

Off The Ropes (Rock Steady Boxing Widnes & Warrington) maximises the mental, emotional and physical potential of people with Parkinson’s disease in their everyday lives. The programme helps them to adapt to life, eliminating the commonly occurring negative self-talk or self–image that often accompanies a degenerative and currently incurable illness. We emphasise the possible enhancements to their quality of life and the possibility of being able to enjoy activities every day. This is accomplished through an intensive and rigorous regime and exercise plan that’s delivered in a welcoming, professional and supportive environment. I am qualified instructor, who is also living with Parkinson’s myself. I completely understand first-hand the issues people are faced with and I know the benefits of exercise in fighting back against some of the symptoms of the disease. RSBW has six classes for people with every stage of Parkinson’s and these are conducted weekly at a gym, serving more than 90 boxers a month. Clients are men and women with ages ranging from their late 30s to early 80s. For those in advanced stages of Parkinson’s, we have helpers and corner-men and women who work hand in hand with the coaches during the sessions. The discovery of a cure may be many years away, but in the last three years, evidence has shown that progress is being made in all stages of Parkinson’s by those participating in the Rock Steady Boxing programme. With continued support through gym and membership fees, fundraising and funding, we have aspired to being able to support our own Parkinson’s hub. Not only will this be the home of Rock Steady Boxing Widnes & Warrington but it will provide a place where all outside Parkinson’s professionals, such as physiotherapists, speech therapists, consultants and Parkinson’s liaison groups, can have a central base for all Parkinson’s sufferers across the north west. A central hub will offer support, well-being, a sense of belonging and overall purpose, and improve the quality of life for all sufferers. To be able to continue with the affiliate programme and offer a training site for all personal trainers to be able to become affiliates in their own rights, allowing the RSBW&W programme to be successfully delivered to all Parkinson’s sufferers across the UK, we hope Rock Steady Boxing will be a beacon of light and hope for those suffering with Parkinson’s.

Why did you decide to open your own business?

There was a need for Parkinson’s sufferers to be able to off load and exercise with like-minded people and professionals. Around 18,000 people every year are diagnosed with Parkinson’s. One in 37 people alive today will be diagnosed with Parkinson's in their lifetime.

What’s your business background?

I’m a boxing coach and private PT.

Why this type of business?

It’s personally close to me and it’s a service that I believe should be offered on the NHS.

Mags Horabin (chairwoman)

Were you open before/during/after the Covid-19 pandemic? How did this affect your business?

Yes, we were open before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. We were able to sustain our following with clients through weekly video updates and we were lucky to receive donations from members and the public, which kept our services going.

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What makes your business different to others in the same area/field? What sets your business apart from your competitors?

There are BBA boxing gyms that try to mimic what we do at Rock Steady Boxing but we have the proven medical results and lots of success stories. Our exercise programme is specifically tailored for Parkinson’s. There are only four know groups like RSBW&W across the whole of the UK.

Why do loyal customers return to your business?

They return because we are one of a kind delivering this service. Our growth has been through exposure across all media channels as well as word of mouth from the boxers and others in the Parksinson’s community.

What’s next? What do the next few months hold for you and your business?

Our business has grown from strength to strength. Between the two sites, we will serve more 150 Parkinson’s sufferers and provide nine classes initially which will increase to 12. We are hoping the Warrington site will be open by the end of March or beginning of April.

Michelle Fox (secretary)