| Home | Fast Forward's Race Against Multiple SclerosisWhat: 5k race and 1 mile fun run When: August 2, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. Why: To benefit Multiple Sclerosis in the Omaha area Where: Lake Zorinsky Lots of us made New Year's resolutions to get to the gym more in 2008. One Omaha gym plays a more important role in the health of its clients than most. The man who owns the gym may have more interest in making sure that they are healthy. While you may notice people lifting weights, and working on some cardio, at the Fast Forward Fitness Center, you may not notice anything out of the ordinary. The southwest Omaha gym is a little different than most. The people who work out there, however, are not your typical gym rats. "People that haven't stood or walked in 15 years are standing or taking steps," says Daryl Kucera, who owns the gym. "That's the most rewarding thing we've seen in this gym." Daryl started Fast Forward for young athletes six years ago. In 2003, he felt compelled to help people who had multiple sclerosis, people who are usually told to relax, instead of work out. "We have proven that if you stay active, get on the right program, you can regain a lot of the abilities you used to have," Daryl says. For the 60 or so folks with MS, who work out 2-3 days a week, they say that the results are more than amazing. "I'm now able to be an athlete again," says Kim Kozelichki, who works out at Fast Forward Fitness. "Daryl is wonderful," says Nichola Olson. "He's a visionary. Everyone with ms should look into something like this." Kim and Nichola both have MS, and both work out at Fast Forward. Both also say that it is Daryl who has helped give them their lives back. "When you can lift just a little more, you hear everybody cheering for you," Kim says. "It's so positive. It's great." "It's a continual downhill slide that gets worse and worse," Nichola says. "With the exercise you can maintain and get better over time." One of the reasons they are so inspired by Daryl is that he also has MS. "That's kind of what started this program," Daryl says. He was diagnosed a month after he opened the gym. He lost his sight, was in a wheelchair, but fought his way back, the same fight he's helping those who work out at his gym win. "I used the weight room and the strength training to get out of the wheelchair, and that's hopefully what we can do here," he says. "Every day you see someone do something they thought they couldn't do and I think that's just a great feeling." (story from: www.kptm.com) The proceeds from this race will go to help continue fighting Multiple Sclerosis in the Omaha area.
|