Fighting Parkinson’s Disease Head-On – Madonna’s story

Following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2012, Madonna Brady set out to learn everything she could about the degenerative neurological condition.

“The diagnosis was a huge shock. I didn’t know anything about Parkinson’s. All I knew I was feeling a little funny and walking a little wonky,” Madonna said.

“For some people, it is really hard to comprehend. Every day for about eight months, I woke up and thought that it was just a bad dream.

“From there, I made it my goal to learn all I could about Parkinson’s and help others.”

Through her research, Madonna noticed a lack of suitable physical activities available for people with Parkinson’s in her home town of Brisbane.

“When I was first diagnosed, the treatment was all about doing exercise.”

“In Brisbane, there was only one Parkinson’s specific exercise class which was full of 70-year-old ladies whose conditions were much further along.”

“A year later, when I attended the World Parkinson’s Congress, we did a workshop with 250 people all doing non-contact boxing,” said Madonna.

“Everyone was so energised by it all. I said, ‘That’s it, I’m going to make this happen in Brisbane.’”

In 2017, Madonna got together with friends and founded Parkinson’s Fighters United (PFU), which began running a non-contact boxing class at the Milton PCYC.

“The main thing is getting it out there that there is something fun and physical for people with Parkinson’s to do.”

“It is a real community thing. Our oldest boxer is a lady who is 79.”

“The men are mostly in their 70’s. I am one of the younger ones at 54. At the PCYC we have about 20-30 boxers each week,” Madonna said.

PFU boxers are now learning from some of the country’s best, having enlisted the services of Irish-Australian boxing champ Dennis

‘Hurricane’ Hogan as the club’s patron.

“Dennis is a great guy; he will hold the pads for us and tell us how good we all are. We all love that, that he would give up his time to be involved. He has also brought in other boxers like Jeff Horn to our sessions.”

The club’s boxers have also benefited from the experience of “Aussie Joe” Bugner, a fighter ranked among the world’s top ten heavyweights in the 1970s who famously took on opponents such as Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

Madonna says that non-contact boxing is the perfect exercise for people with Parkinson’s as it is a workout for both the body and the brain.

“For Parkinson’s, boxing is great because it is rhythmic, it is forced exercise, and it is also complex. You can add to it with different combinations.

“I think I’m getting better at boxing as I go. The more you do it, the easier it gets. You learn the combinations.

“All the warm-up exercises have cognitive skills in mind. Then we move into the boxing room, and that is all really safe for everyone. There is nothing on the floor to trip over.”

The key difference in PFU’s boxing program, Madonna says, is that it keeps people with Parkinson’s involved in the community.

“You don’t want to have to go to a rehab facility to do your everyday exercise. You want to feel like a part of the everyday society. That’s what PFU offers.”

She says the inclusive and understanding nature of the gym keeps members coming back week after week.

“Most days, I like to punch the bag pretty hard, and then there are days when I can hardly punch the bag at all. Nothing goes right; I am shaky as all get out.

“On those days you have just gotta go with it, you can’t do what you can’t do.

“Everyone understands. Everyone has shared similar experiences, and everyone knows what’s going on.”

Outside of the gym, the boxing club provides vital social connections for people with Parkinson’s, allowing them to share stories and build friendships.

“At the end of every month, we have something called cups and chats. We bring along cups of something to drink and some plates of food.

We sit around and chat about our holidays and sometimes we have some guest speakers. Recently we had Alan and Paul Moore come along, both Queensland champion boxers to talk to our group.”

Aside from her work with Parkinson’s Fighters United, Madonna is a regular fixture on RadioParkies, a global digital radio station featuring hosts with Parkinson’s.

She hopes her show can be a voice and a source of hope for others living with Parkinson’s.

“I present one show a week, and it’s a pretty good way to connect with your people.

“I play a wide range of genres and interview people with Parkinson’s. It’s a good thing to do because it makes you sit down and think what your life is like now and how to move forwards with hope.”

Madonna has recently gained access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and hopes that she can use her funding to pursue her passions and continue helping other people with her condition.

“I am hoping to free up my time to do the things I am passionate about. I am really bad at housekeeping and things like that, so I hope to get some in-home support. I am really passionate about community and hope to explore options there.

“It’s really important for everyone, and especially people with Parkinson’s, to be learning new things.

“By learning new things, we are believing and creating some hope.”

Carers Queensland can support you to find out more about the NDIS, to apply for funding and to help you get started with the NDIS.

If you have a disability but are not eligible for the NDIS, Carers Queensland can also help you identify and link to options for support in your community.

To find out more about how the NDIS and Local Area Coordination program can work for you, contact Carers Queensland NDIS Local Area Coordination Partner in the Community Program on 1300 999 636, or cq.enquiries@ndis.gov.au