COURTLAND
Saturday, June 10, will provide an opportunity to buy skillfully made wooden craft items and contribute to a project in support of the James L. Camp Jr. Family YMCA in Franklin. The event will be at the Peanut Patch Gift Shoppe, 27478 Southampton Parkway, Courtland, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., as part of its summer kickoff event from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Dr. Doug Boyce retired as the president of Paul D Camp Community College in 2010 due to an unexpected diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease the year before. He has always enjoyed woodworking, but had very little time to do it. Boyce and his wife, Grace, have also worked to provide support groups for area residents with various movement disorders and their caregivers.

Volunteering and community service has a special way of changing lives. In that spirit, the support group was hearing more and more about various exercise regimens that slow the progression of some of these disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Independent of these efforts, the staff of the JLC YMCA had been seeking funding to transform some space and provide equipment for a Functional Training room and other proven exercise programs, which could provide a better quality of life for older adults, those with disabilities and those who were otherwise healthy individuals.

The synergy of these groups resulted in a grant from the Rotary Club of Franklin, fundraising by the local AARP group and another proposal that is still pending. A conversation between Judy Riddick of The Peanut Patch Gift Shoppe and Boyce led to an opportunity for those who enjoy the beauty of hand crafted wooden heirloom items. Together, they dreamed of an event that could support the Y in their endeavors to help those in need has become a reality, all through the sales of these handcrafted wooden items made by Boyce.

One hundred percent of the proceeds will support the JLC Jr. Family YMCA in support of the exercise options for those with movement disorders and older members of the community at the YMCA.

Boyce’s handcrafted creations include toys (e.g., trucks and cars, pull toys, puzzles, motorcycles) and household items (e.g., letter openers, adjustable napkin holders, vases, and small peanut serving trays). He will be available to answer questions and demonstrate woodworking finishing techniques at the event.

Functional Training Program Details

• Includes cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, balance, and flexibility exercises

• Evaluation of fitness and quality of life assessments before and after participation (program participation contingent upon medical clearance from a medical professional)

• Facilitated by YMCA-certified instructors

A few facts about the program and Parkinson’s disease:

• Someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease every 9 seconds.

• It is estimated that there are 1.5 million people in the US with PD, and 1 out of 10 over the age of 55 will be diagnosed.

• Rock Steady is the first of its kind, non-contact boxing gym in the country dedicated to people with Parkinson’s disease.

• Participants are men and women who range in age from late 30s to their early 90s.