WHO: Endurance Runners Donate Medals to People Working Hard to Regain Skills

ANKENY, Iowa  --  Running a marathon or half marathon is a big accomplishment that takes months of dedication. Some runners realize others are out there working just as hard to accomplish daily tasks many people take for granted.

This is quite a workout for Sean Jenkins. "It's not an easy program. They work you pretty good."

He doesn't box at a typical gym. He participates in a program called the LSVT Boxing Class at On With Life Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center. "I was diagnosed at 45, which is really young for somebody with Parkinson's."

Jenkins was officially diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease a couple years ago after experiencing symptoms a few years before. "I'd be eating, and my hand would be shaking so much, food would actually fall off my fork," he said.

He started On With Life's LSVT Big and Loud program in April. Physical Therapist Jillian Jones said, "It's an intensive therapy program specifically designed for Parkinson's Disease. It works on a number of things: strength, range of motion, balance, endurance, also its overarching goal is sensory recalibration of the brain to change how your brain thinks about movement."

Jenkins still does the exercises daily, after graduating from the program with a big ceremony. It was complete with pom-poms, cheering, and even a medal. He said, "It's a great honor because you realize how much time and work you put into this."

His medal is from a program called Medal4Mettle. The South Suburban YMCA collects the awards from marathon and half marathon runners. A fresh ribbon that says Medal4Mettle is added and then given to ChildServe in Johnston and On With Life in Ankeny.

Watch the full story on WHO.