Roach endorses ‘Gabay Alalay’

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines – Afflicted with Parkinson’s disease since it was diagnosed 24 years ago, Freddie Roach endorsed the other day efforts to increase awareness of the ailment and expressed support for activities that improve the quality of life of patients.

Roach, 54, started boxing at the age of six and registered an amateur record of 141-9 before turning pro in 1978. He was known as a blood-and-guts fighter who never backed down from an opponent. Roach compiled a pro record of 40-13, with 15 KOs, and his last bout was a majority decision loss to David Rivello in Massachusetts in 1986. His final win was a fifth round retirement by Filipino Arnel Arrozal in Lynnwood, Washington, two months before bowing to Rivello.

After retiring from the ring, Roach began a career as a trainer influenced by his mentor Eddie Futch. He has now been a trainer for 27 years and worked the corner of 34 world champions, including his most celebrated titleholder Manny Pacquiao. Roach is a six-time Trainer of the Year awardee by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Roach’s success story is the subject of some inspiring profiles in author Robert Greene’s book “Mastery.” He never expected to be interviewed by Greene for four hours and written about in the same level as Charles Darwin, Leonardo da Vinci, Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin.

Roach takes daily medication for his disease, still encounters tremors and stutters when he speaks. His condition is similar to what Muhammad Ali suffers. Both Roach and Ali fought longer than they should’ve and are now slowed down by their neurodegenerative illness.

Roach said he was recently made aware of the launch of “Gabay Alalay,” a national lay group formed by the Movement Disorder Society of the Philippines in cooperation with the Philippine Neurological Association to focus on issues related to Parkinson’s syndrome. A program will be staged to launch the group at the AFP Medical Center Auditorium on V. Luna corner Kalayaan Ave., Quezon City, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 9. It will also usher in the celebration of this year’s Neurology Week.

The launch aims to enjoin all patients with Parkinson’s disease as well as their families and caregivers to learn more about the ailment and get involved in activities that promote quality of life among patients. The program will include plenary sessions, educational courses, testimonials, workshops and poster displays. Specialists are lined up to deliver lectures covering the full spectrum of the disease to include basic science, symptomatology and current treatment strategies. Registration is free for the first 250 participants and their caregivers. Interested parties may phone Lala or Roxan at +632-7275552.

Asked to endorse the launch in a video to be shown to participants, Roach didn’t hesitate to oblige. In his case, Roach said treatment has reduced the incidence of tremors but there is still no permanent cure. “Bob (Arum) believes my condition has greatly improved,” he said. “I’m now being treated by a neurologist from Harvard. Ordinarily, there is a six-month waiting period for appointments but I was lucky to see him on a day’s notice because of my girlfriend (Dr. Maya Matthews) who’s his friend. I’ve read about stem cell treatment but at the moment, there is no method to direct what is introduced in the system to where you want it to go. That’s why it’s still not approved by the FDA in the US. You might feel better at first but after it wears out in maybe three months, you feel lousy again.”

Roach said Pacquiao’s next opponent Chris Algieri gave him a “spiritual” necklace that’s supposed to heal his Parkinson’s syndrome. “I don’t wear it because I don’t believe in magic,” he said. “(Broadcaster) Larry Merchant called Algieri a scam artist for trying to sell his healing stuff. Algieri goes around with angels in his bracelets. None of that will help him in his fight against Manny.”

Roach and his girlfriend live together in Hancock Park, Los Angeles. He built a duplex so that his 78-year-old mother Barbara, twice a cancer survivor, stays next door. Dr. Matthews works out of Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and comes from a family of doctors. Her parents and two siblings are all physicians. Dr. Matthews was born in the US to Indian parents. Roach said they have no plans of marriage but he’s amenable to a wedding if her parents, who are Catholic, prefer it.

Roach has been in the country for nearly a month and will stay on until he leaves with Pacquiao for Macau. “Maya won’t be coming for Manny’s fight,” he said. “She’s not really a huge boxing fan. She doesn’t come to watch when I’m working a fight. She’ll come to a fight with me if I’m not working.” After the bout, Roach will fly back to Los Angeles. His Filipino assistant Marvin Somodio is minding the Wild Card Gym in his absence.