MERIDIAN, Idaho — The first ever Multiple Sclerosis fitness challenge training camp took place in Meridian today.
One of the founders, David Lyons, says when he was diagnosed with MS he didn't know how to handle it.
He says that fitness helps him get through it all.
"I finally got back into the gym and I realized that was the way for me to beat it," Lyons said.
Now, he wants to share that connection with others.
"It's a very debilitating disease and I've watched a lot of people end up in wheel chairs with the disease," Lyons said. "When I was diagnosed, the doctors told me I would be in a wheelchair and I told them no I won't, so it's very passionate for me to be here to help people never to go backward with this disease and to always go forwards."
One of the trainers with the camp, Jim Nolan, has MS as well.
He helps the participants run through exercises with alternatives based on the mobility they have.
"There's a lot of people out there that not only need healthy direction, but want healthy direction and they want to be able to take control of their lives with things they can control," Nolan said. "You can control your nutrition. You can control exercise to an extent and that's what we're for. We're here just to help people better improve their lives."
One of the participants, Robin Brockelsby, says she was diagnosed with MS this year.
"I was in a really bad spot physically and emotionally," Brockelsby said. "I couldn't walk. I couldn't even put food in my mouth with my hand. I couldn't think right. Multiple Sclerosis is a very scary disease especially when you're just getting diagnosed and in my world I've always been into fitness and health."
She says the program was her answer.
"A place that we can come together to be really positive and look at the gifts that come along with this disease," Brockelsby said.
