Free · Online · Once a monthA Parkinson's support group that gets it
A free monthly gathering for people with Parkinson's and their care partners. Connect with others, share experiences, and learn together — no boxing experience or program membership required.
Last Tuesday of every month · 2:00 p.m. Pacific
The details
Everything you need to know
01
When
The last Tuesday of every month at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
02
Where
On Zoom, from wherever you're comfortable. Email Dean and he'll send you the link.
03
Who it’s for
People living with Parkinson's and their care partners. Come together or on your own.
04
Cost
Free. No boxing experience and no program membership required.
Why it matters
Parkinson's is easier to carry in a room full of people who understand it without explanation. Care partners carry a lot too — this group is just as much for you.
That isn't only a nice sentiment. In a survey of people with Parkinson's published in npj Parkinson's Disease, those who reported being lonely also reported 55% greater symptom severity than those who weren't — while people who said they had a lot of friends reported 21% fewer symptoms than those with few or none.
The researchers were careful to say what the numbers can't settle: whether isolation worsens Parkinson's, or Parkinson's drives isolation. Probably both. Their recommendation didn't depend on the answer — keep people connected, and use support groups to do it.
And here's the reason this group exists separately from our classes. A 2026 study in the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy surveyed 231 people with Parkinson's who were already attending group exercise — and about a third still scored as lonely. Showing up to a workout isn't automatically the same as being connected. That's what an hour of actual conversation is for, and it's why this is free. The full research, explained →
Common questions
About the group
Who can join this Parkinson's support group?
Anyone living with Parkinson's, and anyone caring for someone who is. Care partners are just as welcome on their own — supporting someone with Parkinson's comes with its own load, and it helps to talk with people who carry the same one.
Is the support group really free?
Yes — completely free. You don't need to be a Boxing for Balance member, you don't need any boxing experience, and there's nothing to sign up for beyond emailing Dean for the Zoom link.
What if I'm looking for an in-person group near me?
Because our group meets online, you can join from anywhere. But if you'd also like a group that meets face to face, Dean wrote a guide to Parkinson's support groups across Los Angeles and the Valley — real organizations with verified phone numbers you can call today.
How to join
Two easy steps
Email Dean at boxingforbalance@gmail.com and he'll send you the Zoom link. Then join us on the last Tuesday of the month at 2:00 p.m. Pacific. Questions first? Call or text Dean at 747-234-1115.