Our foundation serves underprivileged and underserved individuals who have degenerative mitochondrial /neuromuscular diseases, such as ALS, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Friedreich’s Ataxia (FA), Parkinson’s disease, and Cerebral Palsy, to name a few. There are no cures for these diseases, and without exception, the individual’s length and/or quality of life are diminished. Regular, effective, and safe resistance/strength training can naturally provide improvements in mitochondrial function and stave off such conditions as cardiac dysfunction and diabetes. Exercise can also improve motor function, strength, and mental health. A recent study of individuals with primary mitochondrial diseases, such as FA, conducted at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a research leader in this field, found that “the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks in most cases.”

For those who have conditions for which there are no pharmaceutical treatments or for those who chose not to use them, the answer seems pretty simple – go to the gym and work out. Yet, as simple as this idea seems, this is where we hit our first brick wall – accessing and using the equipment at the public gym. Despite ADA access regulations, gyms are not required to provide ‘adaptive’ equipment which can be used while remaining in the wheelchair. Even when adaptive pieces are provided, parts (seats) may need to be removed by staff, and built-in platforms may not be suited for use by every size or style of wheelchair. The vast majority of equipment in public gyms is not adaptive, and requires transfer from the wheelchair to the fixed seat. While there are ADA-required staging areas, the space provided is typically in front of the equipment instead of to the side. For someone like myself who has been wheelchair-bound for 18 years and cannot stand, a transfer from my wheelchair (facing the equipment) to a seated position (facing the opposite direction) is impossible. Someone would literally have to pick me up, turn me around, and put me in the seat. I am an average-size man who weighs 200 lbs. There is no one in my family or circle of friends who could help me with that maneuver without hurting themselves or potentially dropping me.

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Due to these access and safety concerns, someone with a degenerative mitochondrial /neuromuscular disease would have little choice but to purchase their own adaptive equipment or to hire trainers to assist them with accessing and using the available equipment at public gyms. Both options are quite expensive – and there is the second brick wall we hit. How does someone who typically lives off of Social Security disability or other fixed income pay for these expenses? They can’t and they don’t. The able-bodied person can join the local gym for as little as $10/month and use it however and whenever they want. The disabled person, on the other hand, would have to pay upwards of $120/week or $500/month to work out only 2 hours per week, because they cannot effectively and safely do so without the assistance of trainers. For resistance/strength training to be effective for  mitochondrial improvement, it must be done regularly. Going to the gym every now and then as money becomes available will not bring about the desired benefits. To engage in regular, effective, and safe exercise (a scientifically-tested therapy to improve and potentially lengthen their lives), all they need is money. The Christopher J Nercesian Foundation, Inc., wants to be the channel through which this funding is provided.

In the short-term, we have implemented the "Train"sition  Program which will fund two training sessions per week at vetted local gyms for anyone with a mitochondrial/neuromuscular disease. Funding priority will be given to those who are wheelchair-bound and have financial need. In the long-term, we intend to open a network of low-cost, fully-staffed, and barrier-free gyms (Mito-P.O.W.E.R. Gym) which will be available nationwide to anyone with such conditions. Because these diseases are degenerative, some much faster than others, we want to enable these individuals to begin exercising as soon as possible. Would you please help us with a donation today? Together, we can change lives through exercise.