Punching Out Parkinson's Hosts the Meet the Champions Event Featuring Two World-Class Athletes: Ben Petrick and Paulie Ayala

Fort Worth, TX, January 10, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Punching Out Parkinson’s, a rigorous training program that helps people battling the disease, hosts Meet the Champions on Saturday, Jan. 12. The event features two world-class athletes: Ben Petrick and local boxing champion, Paulie Ayala.

Petrick, former Colorado Rockies baseball star, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the height of his career when he was 23. He will share his inspiring story about life with Parkinson’s at the Meet the Champions event. Petrick’s book Forty Thousand to One chronicles his life with Parkinson’s and was recently featured on ESPN’s E:60.

Local boxing legend, Ayala, known by boxing fans as ‘el tigre’ burst onto the scene in 1999 on an HBO Boxing Event, defeating Johnny Tapia to become the Bantamweight World Champion, in a 12 round bout named Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year. A champion with a heart, Alaya launched the Punching Out Parkinson’s program in his famed University of Hard Knock’s gym after being approached by a local Parkinson’s patient who’d been turned away from numerous other gyms.

“These Parkinson’s patients aren’t taking their diagnosis sitting down. They work hard and challenge themselves,” Paulie Ayala, owner of University of Hard Knocks and Fort Worth native world-champion boxer said. “I’m proud to host the Punching Out Parkinson’s program and help the participants fight their personal battle.”

Hosted by Scott Murray the family-friendly evening includes food, raffles, live music by Hill City Band and inspirational speakers.

The event takes place at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Cendera Center, 3600 Benbrook Highway. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online by visiting www.facebook.com/punchingoutparkinsons