In honor of World Parkinson's Day, we're celebrating Sky Ridge resident, Mel Schultz. For Mel Schultz, running started as a way to encourage his sons to get involved in sports, to spend quality time training together, and as a means to stay active. What it turned into was far more inspirational and a genuine display of endurance and strength.
Over the course of 50 years, the Army veteran participated in hundreds of races, including 60 marathons. Despite mainly using a wheelchair due to Parkinson’s, this Saturday, April 15th, Mel, at the age of 90, will participate in Pat’s Run, the signature fundraiser for the Pat Tillman Foundation’s Tillman Scholars program, held in Tempe, Arizona.
“Mel said he wanted to cross the finish line one more time,” said Taylor Ashpole, Director of Wellness Programming at Sky Ridge, the senior living community Mel calls home. “I thought, we could make that happen.”
As word got out, the community’s Maintenance Director, Trevor Hendryx, was inspired to participate. He and Taylor will trade off during the race in pushing Mel along the course to the Arizona State University, where he will complete the final 42 yards with his walker among the thousands of other finishers.
“Mel loves to challenge himself – always has. He keeps telling his physical therapist that his goal was to run a 5K one last time,” said Tina Bakalis, Mel’s daughter. “It’s flipping amazing that he’ll have the chance. God bless Taylor and Trevor.”
When Taylor proposed the idea to Mel, he lit up and said, “Oh my gosh, we’ve got to train!” And so they did, with an adaptive wheelchair loaned to them from Tim Bolen, Executive Director at 2gether We Live. The non-profit’s mission is to support veterans and people with disabilities to participate in the sports they love.
According to Mel, he has always loved the social aspect of running races. He started running to help his middle school-aged twin boys find a sport they could love. The twins completed their first marathon with their dad at age 13. From there, Mel participated in various races, from 5Ks to 100 miles. Along the way, he helped one of his nine grandchildren train as a runner. She later secured a track scholarship.
As part of a running club, he enjoyed making new friends, including his best friend, who sadly passed away during a race they ran together. The following year, Mel coordinated a race in his friend’s honor. He was ranked in the state of California. Competed in multiple states and Canada and has over 150 finishers’ medals.
“You really have to like crowds,” said Mel about competing in so many races.
As an MBK Senior Living community, helping residents to pursue their passions and live a purposeful life is part of the company’s signature Mind+Body Wellness program. In addition to an array of whole-person physical, educational, spiritual, and cultural activities and outings, the community seeks ways to support residents’ interests, lifelong hobbies, and personal goals.
According to MBK Senior Living’s Regional Director of Wellness Programming, Donal McGraw, Mind+Body Wellness celebrates what residents can do while providing the support and extra push to reach the finish line.
“We don’t let any physical limitations stop residents from reaching what’s meaningful to them,” said McGraw. “Neither age nor Parkinson’s should stop Mel from the feeling he gets from running.”
When asked how it would feel to race again, Mel said, “The finish line always looks nice – no matter where it is.”
