Muhammad Ali inspires Rochester’s “Knock Out Parkinson’s” event

The Aquinas Institute of Rochester was a first-time host for 2020’s “Knock Out Parkinson’s” event. Inspired by Muhammad Ali’s fight against Parkinson’s Disease, this event raised funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Dom Arioli, a certified boxing coach and owner of ROC Boxing & Fitness, met Muhammad Ali in 1994. In Arioli’s words, Ali really impacted his life as Arioli watched the boxing legend struggle with such a debilitating disease. And this is why Arioli wanted to honor Ali by helping to raise funds to fight Parkinson’s.

Boxing students and their coaches participated in Saturday’s “Knock Out Parkinson’s” event by helping attendees don boxing gloves and take boxing lessons. Pictures of the attendees wearing boxing robes and gloves memorialized their participation by having their pictures taken.

The Parkinson’s Foundation helps people in all walks of life who are fighting this disease by advancing research toward a cure and improving the care for Parkinson’s patients. The community of Rochester helped this Foundation move toward their goals through their “Knock Out Parkinson’s” event, which raised awareness of this disease while raising money to help fight it.

Ali’s legacy lives on through his exemplary career as well as his notoriety being able to help shine a spotlight on Parkinson’s.