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Michael Mendez will perform his one man show, "Harry Belafonte: King of Calypso" at the Parkinson's Cafe in River Club in East Manatee on Thursday. The cafe, founded by Lynn Schramek, is a place where Parkinson's patients and their care partners can go once a month for a dose of intellectual stimulation, positive energy and lots of fun. PROVIDED PHOTO
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MANATEE
April 4, 2016
Harry Belafonte and Parkinson's disease would seem to have little in
common.
But
when one considers all the physical and mental activity and feel good music
Belafonte has poured into his years, he could be called a Parkinson's role
model even though he doesn't have the disorder. Doctors say varied physical and
mental activity and positive attitude is good for Parkinson's patients.
"Positive
energy is important for Parkinson's patients," says Bradenton's Lynn B.
Schramek.
Schramek
may have really hit the bull's-eye when she lined up a Harry Belafonte tribute
for her Parkinson Café, which she founded in Bradenton in 2015 to help
Parkinson's patients have a fun, mentally stimulating time and get positive
vibes.
Schramek
created the first Parkinson's Cafe in upstate New York in 2006 to help her
husband, Brad, who has Parkinson's, which is a central nervous system disorder
that can cause tremors and lack of movement in many parts of the body.
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| Brad Schramek, left, with fellow Parkinson's disease sufferer Michael J. Fox. Schramek's wife, Lynn, is the founder of the Parkinson's Cafe in Bradenton. Lynn started the local cafe in 2015. She created the first Parkinson's Cafe in 2006 in upstate New York. PROVIDED PHOTO |
New
medicines have helped patients return to being active, but doctors believe
mental attitude can also help with the peaks and valleys of the disorder,
Schramek said.
"The
mission of the Parkinson's Cafe is to provide social, cultural and intellectual
interactions for people with Parkinson's and their care partners, Schramek said
by phone last week.
Equity
actor Michael Mendez, a member of Sarasota's Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe,
will perform his one-man show, "Harry Belafonte: King of Calypso," at
1 p.m. on Thursday at the cafe, whose official name is "First Thursday
Neuro Challenge Parkinson Café."
The
cafe is at River Club Caddyshak, 6600 River Club Blvd., Bradenton. A $10
donation for Westcoast will be taken at the door.
"We'd
like to invite anyone with Parkinson's and their partners to Michael's
performance and to check out the cafe," Schramek said.
Parkinson's
families may attend the full April 7 session from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. by paying
$15 to the Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson's, Schramek said.
The
cafe regularly meets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the first Thursday of every month
from October through April.
Schramek
brings in a morning and evening speakers and has had performers and creative
arts therapists do interactive workshops.
Last
month, for example, Lisa Richardson, an art therapist, was the guest and
brought in paint for everyone to use.
"We've
had improv, role playing, many things," Schramek said. "We want
people to bring positive energy and leave recharged."
As
for Mendez, he said a few days ago that he plans on giving the Parkinson's
patients who attend his show a huge dose of positive energy.
"It
took me a while to catch on to Mr. Belafonte's music because I grew up on '70s
soul music but when I did I loved it," said Mendez, who is from the
Dominican Republic and regards Belafonte as a fellow "Island boy."
Belafonte's
been a singer, songwriter, actor and social activist and he is still extremely
active at 89.
"His
songs define the struggle of the island man, really the struggle of the
world," said Mendez who has performed the one-man show
about
seven times. "His music is love we can give to each other. His strength in
music and entertainment allowed him to change the world for the better."
In
his 45-minute concert, Mendez will perform "Coconut Woman" and
"Matilda." Mendez will also talk about Belafonte's passions,
including the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and '60s. Belafonte was in
Martin Luther King, Jr's inner circle and is still involved in political issues
all over the globe, Mendez said.
Keep
moving
All
of this is important to people with Parkinson's because people who stay active
and feel strong lead a better life with the disease, said Sarasota's John
Baumann, 55, who has had Parkinson's for 14 years. Baumann is a advocate of the
Parkinson's Cafe because people don't just air their gripes and complaints, but
enjoy theater, music, art and stimulating dialogue.
"I
look forward to it," Baumann said.
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Sarasota's John Baumann, left, shown here with his wife, Bernadette, is a living example of what a motivated Parkinson's patient can do. Baumann, a former attorney, says he is in the best shape of his life despite his Parkinson's. He's become an inspirational speaker and book author. He works out every day, eats healthy and stays positive. He says the Parkinson's Cafe in River Club in East Manatee keeps him on track. The cafe, founded by Lynn Schramek, is a place where Parkinson's patients and their care partners can go once a month for a dose of intellectual stimulation, positive energy and lots of fun. PROVIDED PHOTO
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Formerly
a high-powered corporate attorney, Baumann was bitter at first when he
contracted the disease and found that it basically began to age him
prematurely. He had to quit his law practice. But he hasn't given up the fight.
Baumann
wrote a book titled, "Decide Success: You Ain't Dead Yet" and has
gone on to become an inspirational speaker.
"I
would never have become an inspirational speaker if I hadn't got
Parkinson's," Baumann said last week.
Over
the past five years, Baumann has lost 45 pounds. He works out hard every day,
doing hot yoga or boxing. He eats a lot of greens and drinks no regular or diet
soda or fried food or fast food.
"It's
all about motivation," Baumann said.
When
his alarm goes off at 5 a.m., Baumann doesn't lay in bed. He doesn't think
about it. He just gets up. He wants to be in the best shape possible to
confront his Parkinson's and live on his terms.
These
are ideas he shares at the Parkinson's Cafe.
"If
you look at me now and knew me five years ago you wouldn't recognize me,"
Baumann said. "I am healthier than I have ever been in my life. And I have
Parkinson's."
Richard
Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7072 or contact him via
Twitter@RichardDymond.
http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/health-care/article69902282.html
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