Mark Stine KOLD News 13 Reporter
Posted: 11-20-04

"Even being able to walk or do pretty mundane things is a struggle."

Sharon Kha has Parkinson's disease. She was diagnosed less than a year ago, but it's not slowing her down. Today, she competed in the 35-mile El Tour de Tucson event.

"Doing it now is a miracle," Kha said. "It's like not having the disease for an hour or two."

Right now Sharon's muscles are still working well, it's her brain that's telling her muscles to stop. If it continues, Sharon's muscles will weaken.

Becky Farley is hoping to prevent that from happening. Becky is a physical therapist, neuroscientist and Sharon's coach.

"She has to get used to more effort all the time, so when she's on the bike, she's working really hard," Farley said.

Working hard is an everyday event for Jim Wetherell. Jim's had Parkinson's for 10 years. He rides a minimum of 20 miles a day on his trike.

"My trike is my bridge to a normal life," Wetherell told KOLD News 13.

Since starting his daily rides, Jim's tremors are gone and he doesn't take as much medication. "I've proved to myself and pretty much to my doctors if I'm riding I stay better, if I cut down on my riding I get Parkinson's more," Wetherell said.

"Medications aren't enough for Parkinson's. You have to exercise, touch therapy, meditation, there's a whole holistic approach to Parkinson's now," Becky said.

And according to Becky Farley, Sharon's training for El Tour de Tucson will hopefully hold off the most debilitating effects of Parkinson's.

"Pushing yourself actually rewires your brain. So that your brain can do things it couldn't do if you just did what you thought you were able to do," Sharon said.

If you, or a loved one is suffering from Parkinson's disease, you can go to www.AZAPDA.org for more information.