One In A Million
Martie Vlcek is the owner and founder of Rock Steady Boxing Green Valley (RSBGV). This blog is a Tribute to Martie for all that she has done for myself and others living with Parkinson’s in the Las Vegas area. While we will miss her, we wish her and her husband Robert all the best in their new life in Texas.
MARTIE AND ME
Well, it had to happen, it was just a matter of time, like the Beatles, and Sonny and Cher before us, Martie and I are splitting up. Martie is moving to Texas and leaving me behind. But to be honest, she is leaving me in much better place, and for that I am grateful.
My relationship with Martie goes back to April of 2017, that was a tough time in my life. I had gotten through my depression phase and I was well into my denial phase. By outward appearances I looked fine, but inside it was a battle royal. My wife met Martie at a PD event and she was impressed and excited for me to meet her. Myself on the other hand, could have waited a lifetime to meet Martie. I did not know it at the time, but the day I met Martie would prove to be pivotal in my success in living with PD.
I don’t remember walking into the gym that day, but I was pretty sure RSB was not for me. But I had to at least give it a try to stay out of the dog house at home. The only thing I remember about the evaluation was Martie and I got down on the floor, locked ankles and passed the medicine ball back and forth while doing sit-ups. I wasn’t sure if she was trying to kill me, teach me a lesson, or she just wanted to see what the doughboy had in him, but if that was the normal evaluation, I was definitely in the right place. When I drove home that day, I felt more optimistic than when I arrived. And even though I had not met any of the other boxers, I felt a connection to them and finally knew I was not alone. I could tell Martie believed in what she was doing and I felt her compassion. She also had a personal connection to the disease, because both her father and brother had been diagnosed with PD, so she knew the score.
Anyone who thinks someone would become a Rock Steady Boxing affiliate for the money is crazy, there is no money! How do I know, because many times I was the only boxer or one of two (Greg O’ Keefe being the other), and knowing what we were paying, trust me “there’s no gold in them there hills”. And as my work schedule changed, so did the dates and times of the boxing classes. Martie saw my commitment to Rock Steady Boxing, and she went out of her way to make sure I got as many classes as possible. I look back on those times and still can’t believe she did not pull the plug on the whole program. How bad was it, bad enough that I was trying to come up with a contingency plan in case it all came crashing down. But every scheduled class was held no matter how many people showed up.
But with a lot of effort, Martie began to see the fruits of her labor, and membership grew. I used to watch as she spoke to new potential members in a calm reassuring manner, laughing as if she had known them forever. Whether she knew it or not, those first interactions would set the table for success. Happiness is contagious, and the change I saw in people after becoming a part of our group was amazing. It can’t be overstated how important relationships are when living with PD. I can tell you first hand, that the boxer/coach relationship is an important piece of the pie, and Martie is great at that.
But it was the things Martie was doing outside of the gym that impressed me the most. Martie had her hands in almost everything Parkinson’s in Las Vegas. If there was a Parkinson’s event, Martie was involved, and she was also instrumental in helping to get “Parkinson’s Place LV. Org” off the ground, her commitment was undeniable. And when there was a PD event Martie made sure RSBGV were there in full force, boxers, husbands, wives, and coaches, we were loud, and unruly (as much as people with PD can be), all wearing our Rock Steady Boxing shirts that she provided. It was an impressive display of loyalty for her efforts, and quite frankly it was a lot of fun.
When I started writing this, my plan was to roast Martie. But as I began to write, I thought back to when I met Martie. I have gone from someone fearful and afraid, to a person some people call inspiring (their words not mine). Would I have gotten to this point if I had never met Martie, thankfully we will never know? My relationship with Martie made having Parkinson’s feel almost normal. She made me comfortable enough to speak openly about my disease to the point that I became myself again. She brought into my life a wonderful group of people who remind me every day how lucky I am to be a part of this program. And unbeknownst to me at the time, she provided a shoulder for my wife to cry on when she needed it most. And finally, she asked me to be a RSB coach, which meant a lot to me, more than she’ll ever know.
I will be honest, I was disappointed when I heard Martie was leaving, I guess you could say she had become my security blanket. But like always, she covered her bases, she has left this program in great hands. Orlando will continue to do a fantastic job, and Gaylynn will continue to ask us if we’ve done our 3D Matix at home, even though she knows better. I will do whatever it is I do, and Martie has brought my grandson Joe on board to coach, we will do great. Martie will come around every so often and it will be great to see her, but the time has come.
Martie, thank you for all you’ve done, it will never be forgotten. Neither will the fact that you went out of your way to tell me that Rosalie is way out of my league, that will also not be forgotten! And a note to Robert, you could have done so much better! Martie, consider yourself Roasted! Love You, and all the best, enjoy!!! Oh, by the way, thanks for the cat!
By Mark Hitechew