Sheffield boxing club offers training to Parkinson's and dementia patients

Authored by bbc.co.uk and submitted by Upstairs_Drive_5602
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Coaches at a boxing club that offers training to people with Parkinson's disease are expanding their offer, inviting any adults with brain injuries to take part.

Sheffield City Boxing, based in Sharrow, were initially given funding by England Boxing, which had run non-contact sessions for Parkinson's patients throughout the country.

When the three-month funding trial finished, coach Brendan Warburton decided to continue the sessions, and extend the offer to dementia and stroke patients.

Warburton said: "We've got a great community here. I had to keep it going. Nobody is being punched on the nose. We work on balance and coordination drills between your hands and your feet."

Upstairs_Drive_5602 on March 30th, 2026 at 11:44 UTC »

It may sound surprising, but no one is throwing punches here. Through gentle, non-contact boxing sessions, people living with Parkinson's disease are finding something many feared was slipping away: confidence, connection, and joy. Built around simple movements, balance drills and encouragement, these classes offer a safe, supportive space where progress is measured in smiles as much as strength. For those living with the condition, and the loved ones beside them, it’s more than exercise, it’s a weekly reminder that even in the face of challenge, hope can grow, friendships can flourish, and small victories can mean everything.