Meet Keith
Keith Letarski is living with Parkinson’s – and inspiring everyone in his dedication to an active lifestyle
Written by Stephanie Hardi
Keith Letarski began working out in a more traditional sense after a major life change – being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Keith joined Rock Steady Boxing, a nationwide program for people with Parkinson’s disease that provided 1.5 hours a day of socialization, CrossFit-style activity, and boxing. Photo credit: Big Dreamers United
“After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, I could not continue working,” Keith said. “But the one thing every medical expert agreed on was that exercise could slow down the progression of the disease.”
Keith was already fairly fit from working in the construction industry. A Wausau, WI native, he worked as an electrician for more than 24 years and ran his own electrical business.
Giving the disease a one-two-punch
“I found a group in Madison that was called Rock Steady Boxing which is a nationwide program for people with Parkinson’s disease. I was fortunate enough to have friends and family in the area that I was able to stay with in Madison. The program provided 1.5 hours a day of socialization, CrossFit-style activity, and boxing.”
After 15 months of being in that program Keith needed to return to Wausau. There was not much support in the area for people specifically with Parkinson’s, but Keith stayed active, working out on his own and joining a YMCA class that was specifically for people with health issues such as MS or Parkinson’s.
Keith and a group of his Rib Mountain hiking buddies who have supported him and kept him motivated in his pursuit of an active lifestyle.
Keith found that the recommendations to exercise were paying off.
“Keeping active and exercising improved my strength that I had lost when I was not doing well,” said Keith. “It keeps me from stiffening up and makes my body move in full extensions. It also helps with the apathy by giving me the ‘runners high’”.
A journey of inclines and declines
Keith had also found a hiking group that hiked up Rib Mountain several times a week, but after he returned to Wausau his health was starting to rapidly decline. Although the hiking group encouraged him to keep coming back and would let Keith set the pace, in November of 2019 he stopped attending hikes as he could no longer continue that level of activity.
“Shortly after that I started taking medications for the disease. Although I had minimal improvement, I did regain enough ability to join the hiking group again in May of 2020. The group was supportive and encouraging and I walked what I could. On the weekday hike we climb the face of the ski hill, about two and half miles, and on Sundays we hike the yellow trail, the roadside of the hill, about five miles. After about six weeks I was able to start running again and continued three days a week this summer. My health began to improve tremendously.”
In September after adjusting his medication, Keith was feeling good – his running and hiking were strong.
“Everyone was chasing me, and they were amazed at my ability,” said Keith. “They also kiddingly said I needed to be drug tested, ha!”
Exercise has helped Keith slow the progression of Parkinson’s. “It keeps me from stiffening up and makes my body move in full extensions.”
Despite joking about the medications, Keith has found that finding the right mix of medications for Parkinson’s has been one of the biggest challenges.
“The meds are kinda a crap shoot,” Keith said. “I need to plan my day accordingly to be at my best at the right time. A dose is supposed to be good for 4 or more hours and I’m lucky to get 1 good hour.”
Staying connected and active
But despite the obstacles, Keith has continued to pursue activities that improve his health and help to slow the disease. In late August, he decided to join a CrossFit gym, Adventure Awaits, at the recommendation of several of the people in his hiking group.
“It's been a great group that improves my health even more. Everyone is supportive and has helped me with my limited abilities,” said Keith.
Keith’s commitment to his health and activity is the reason he decided to register for the Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge-Winter Edition.
“With winter approaching I liked the idea of having a goal to keep active for. I assembled a coed team of the best hikers from my group, and they are all excited to compete. We are all competitive but supportive of each other. I expect that we will dominate, but at the same time I know I can crash and burn if my disease acts up and I don’t get my meds right. We'll have fun and if something would happen to anyone of us, we would carry them to the finish.”
The Rib Mountain hiking crew smiles with Keith at the top of a winter summit.
Finding his tough: driving out the disease
For Keith, “Finding Your Tough” has come pretty naturally to him. Finding ways to slow down Parkinson’s is a challenge he has readily met by forging friendships that support him mentally and pursuing activities that keep him motivated to move.
“I’ve surrounded myself with some very positive people and have created some very special friendships,” said Keith. “I feel fortunate that others say that I’m an inspiration, that helps fuel my drive. My three wonderful children motivate me as well – I hope to inspire them and start hiking, running and working out together.”
“To anyone else with a disease I encourage you to find those type of friendships and be as active as you can be no matter how little that might be. Some days when I don’t feel well, exercise is a way to feel like I can drive this disease right out of me and live the best life that I can.”