‘Thrive With Five’ Parkinson’s Wellness Event Slated for Aug. 2 in Pasadena

A free wellness event titled “Thrive With Five: Living Your Absolute Best Life With Parkinson’s” will take place Saturday, Aug. 2, at FitSport Kinetics in Pasadena, offering holistic tools and guidance for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. The event is hosted by Keck Medicine of USC, Parkinson’s Community Los Angeles (PCLA) and FitSport Kinetics, with support from Abbott and Acadia.

Held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 801 S. Raymond Ave., the event features five interactive stations focusing on medical care, nutrition, exercise, sleep hygiene and mental health/socialization. Admission is free, open to all ages, and includes complimentary refreshments and onsite parking.

The schedule includes welcome drinks and wellness activities beginning at 3:30 p.m., followed by a moderated panel discussion at 4 p.m. and closing remarks by 5:30 p.m. ABC7’s Leanne Suter will moderate the panel, which features movement disorder specialist Dr. Xenos Mason, nurse Catherine Mark (BSN, RN), and YOPD advocates Jennifer Parkinson and Dave Kerr.

Panelists will highlight advancements in treatment and quality-of-life improvements for Parkinson’s patients. Dr. Mason praised MRI-guided asleep deep brain stimulation (DBS), saying, “The ability to perform DBS surgery with the patient asleep removes one barrier to having this surgery, which can be life-changing.” Dr. Brian Lee added, “Asleep DBS is a more attractive option because you go to sleep, and then you wake up and the surgery is done.”

FitSport Kinetics, a 20,000-square-foot Pasadena gym, offers neurological fitness and senior boxing programs under its “Ageless Athletes” initiative. Its nonprofit arm, FitSport Foundation Inc., funds no-cost “big-motion” classes for people with degenerative neurological conditions.

“Boxing changed my life…We don’t turn anybody away,” said Jennifer Parkinson. Dave Kerr emphasized the gym’s inclusive mission: “This is a natural fit…With over 30 years of experience teaching, Rick Jeffcoat offers comprehensive training in self-defense for adults and youth.”

PCLA supports the Parkinson’s community across Los Angeles County through support groups, a medical advisory board, and a live resource line at 310-880-3143.
Registration and additional details are available through Eventbrite’s listing.