HSU Students Volunteer to Help Local Persons with Parkinson’s through Exercise

Hardin-Simmons University students volunteer to help local Parkinson’s patients at the Fletcher Fitness Center on campus. As a free resource to the community, HSU hosts a program for people with Parkinson’s to receive support and physical education. HSU student volunteers follow physician-approved exercise plans while helping their patients maintain and improve their health. 

Dr. Lorraine Wilson, a former exercise science and health professor diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2017, founded this program to help the community. Of the HSU students who are involved, she shared, 

Students are better prepared for graduate school and their future workplace by seeing academic information come alive while guiding exercise for persons from the community.

When asked how the program helps prepare students for their future careers, Dr. Wilson said, “This volunteer work can make the difference between acceptance and rejection for two otherwise equal candidates for grad school or employment.” 

Students are also held to a high standard and treated as any other member of the process of helping someone diagnosed with Parkinson’s. “Students need to think on their feet, be aware of safety at all times, motivate their client, modify an exercise if necessary, and act professionally and cordially,” Dr. Wilson explained. The Fletcher Fitness Center provides a safe place for participants to exercise. Chantelle Lancaster, Director of University Recreation, shared, “The Fletcher provides a variety of sectorized weight equipment near the front of the facility that makes it easy for participants to transfer in and out for their resistance training workouts. Fletcher also offers a variety of recumbent bikes, rowers, and indoor walking track so each participant can achieve their cardiorespiratory training goals.” 

Ava Dennis, a freshman exercise science major and student volunteer, spoke of how important it is for students, especially medical students, to be exposed to these real-life care scenarios on campus. “Working with the patients makes the scenarios more than just a hypothetical in a class,” she said. “Applying my knowledge learned in the classroom to affect another person’s life makes my knowledge feel valued.” 

Though the program only began this January, students and faculty are eager to continue offering this service. Thanks to the hard work of HSU student volunteers, HSU will continue to provide this potentially life-altering care to persons with Parkinson’s for as long as they are needed.