FUNDRAISING PAGE
rock steady film
Parkinson’s fighters punch back—an inspiring journey of resilience, hope, and community. Help support the film’s production and ensure that this powerful story gets told.
Check out the film teaser below:
Rock Steady: About the Film
ROCK STEADY is an inspiring documentary exploring the powerful journey of Parkinson’s fighters who refuse to let the disease define their lives. Set in a small boxing gym just outside Boston, Massachusetts, ROCK STEADY intimately captures stories of hope, resilience, and community through the eyes of Ken, a civil rights advocate and retired social worker; Rafi, a young boxing champion from Puerto Rico, turned coach; and Peter, an 80-year-old assistant coach providing wisdom and steady support.
Where We’re At in Production
We’ve already taken the first big step toward making ROCK STEADY a reality.
Last fall, our team spent three days filming in Boston, capturing powerful baseline footage and interviews to help establish the heart of the story. This trip also allowed us to craft the teaser video you see here—just a glimpse of what’s to come.
But we’re not done yet.
To complete the story, we plan to return to Boston for 1–2 more trips to film key moments as they unfold. After that, we’ll move into post-production, where we’ll bring everything together through editing, sound design, and color to shape the final film.
Every contribution brings us closer to the finish line.
Parkinson’s affects 8.5 million people worldwide…
but it doesn't have the last word. The story of Rock Steady empowers not only those impacted but anyone facing life's battles, inspiring viewers with its message of strength and perseverance.
What is
Rock Steady Boxing?
Rock Steady Boxing is an internationally recognized organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with Parkinson's through non-contact boxing-based fitness training.
The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation estimates that over 1 million people in the United States have Parkinson’s and over 8.5 million worldwide.
Rock Steady Boxing uses research-backed boxing exercises that have been scientifically shown to significantly improve agility, balance, coordination, endurance, and overall quality of life for individuals living with Parkinson’s.
Why This Matters
and Why Now?
Rock Steady Boxing is more than a sport—it’s a lifeline backed by substantial scientific research. Numerous studies, including those from the Parkinson’s Foundation and Cleveland Clinic, have confirmed boxing's significant benefits for Parkinson's patients, demonstrating improvements in balance, gait, cognitive function, and overall quality of life. ROCK STEADY gives voice to fighters, amplifying the impact of this transformative therapy and building greater awareness and support.
The main characters
Ken Schulman – Fighter
Ken is a lifelong social justice advocate and educator whose Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2019 became his latest fight. Now, he’s channeling the strength and determination from decades of activism into the ring, inspiring others through resilience and hope.
Rafael "Rafi" Rivera – Head Coach & Mentor
Rafi, a former Golden Gloves boxing champion, combines his love for boxing and wellness coaching to mentor fighters facing Parkinson’s. Passionate and charismatic, he empowers his community through holistic fitness and mental strength.
Peter Landau – Assistant Coach
At 80 years old, Peter offers profound wisdom and steady guidance as assistant coach. Though not personally affected by Parkinson’s, he supports fighters with empathy and understanding, embodying strength, patience, and compassion.
Fundraising Goal & Rewards
Our goal is to bring this important message and story to the widest possible audience through festival screenings, educational platforms, and community outreach.
Our funding goal is $50,000.
Contributions directly support:
Production costs – filming, equipment rentals, permits, and overhead costs
Travel expenses – allowing us to provide travel for our crew to film on location in Boston
Post-production – editing, sound design, color, and finishing to bring the story to life
Distribution & screenings – sharing the film in theaters, communities, and schools
Film festival submissions – ensuring the story of ROCK STEADY is seen around the world
Rewards
Supporters make ROCK STEADY possible, and we deeply appreciate your generosity.
We’ve created a set of special rewards to thank you for being part of this journey.
A note from the director
I don’t often get to visit my hometown of Boston, but I managed a trip after a documentary shoot in the spring of 2024. Although I’ve been aware of my father Ken’s, Parkinson’s, this visit struck me the most. I saw not only his health challenges but also, in contrast, the incredible hope and community surrounding this disease. It all became clear when I attended one of his Rock Steady classes, where I was hit with every emotion: hope, sadness, loss, empowerment, and more. Standing beside another senior fighter, hitting the bags with 1-2-3 combinations, I realized that there’s a powerful and important story to share…not just my father’s, but that of 8.5 million others worldwide.
Through this film, I want to show that age and health don’t have to be barriers to starting a new chapter in life. People who are aging and living with disease are not just bedridden seniors—they are strong, powerful humans with so much light left to shine. With every punch, they prove that life’s battles can be fought at any stage.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about this beautiful story,
Max Haimowitz
Director & Producer
stills from the production
Help bring the film to life