This website is the result of a collaboration between Kathy Helmuth, Parkinson’s Cycling Coach, Tom Eckhardt, Parkinson’s patient and avid Pedaling for Parkinson’s advocate, and Pedaling for Parkinson’s class members.
This website was developed with two ideas in mind:
1) to provide general information about why exercise is the number one prescription for fighting and slowing the progression of PD, and
2) to provide a simple and secure way to download recordings of previous classes so class attendees could continue their exercise routine at home or on the road.
Kathy Helmuth
Kathy Helmuth has been coaching Pedaling for Parkinson’s classes in Sarasota, FL for over 5 years. Kathy is a Wellness Professional at the CORE SRQ and Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Health Fit facility. A Registered Nurse, she received her degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Kathy holds fitness certifications from: ACE, Spinning®, Flexibility Training (YMCA of the USA), Stability Ball Training (YMCA of the USA), Pilates Instructor (YMCA of the USA), Circuit Training (YMCA of the USA), Core Muscle Training ( YMCA of the USA), Yogafit and Les Mills.
Kathy also provides on line training for Pedaling for Parkinson’s coaches around the world as co-founder and Lead Instructor of Parkinson’s Cycling Coach.com. She also maintains a PD Cycling Coaches group page on Facebook.
Tom Eckhardt – PwP and Webmaster
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013 at the age of 67, Tom has incorporated exercise as his number one treatment for PD. His blog, It Is What It Is has been named one of the Top 50 Parkinson’s Blogs by Feedspot and one of the top 10 blogs to help you stay fit and positive by Everyday Health. He has been attending the bi-weekly classes taught by Kathy for 4 years and attributes the slow progression of his disease to this class.