They say good news travels fast. This is certainly true for one pioneering group of athletes in New York. Founded nearly three years ago, Ping Pong Parkinson has already spread its message of hope around the world. The unique approach to exercise therapy is the brainchild of Croatian-American musician Nenad Bach, New York Times crossword editor Will Shortz and a team of doctors. Bach, diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease nearly a decade ago, began to lose the ability to play his beloved guitar. Then, by chance, a friend invited him to start playing ping-pong. Soon, Bach began to notice his symptoms improving. "I play table tennis, I enjoy every day of my life," he said. "Worry is out!" Now, not only is he an avid ping-pong player, but he has regained the ability to play his guitar. Bach teamed up with Will Shortz, also the owner of the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville, New York, to share his miracle with the community. After years of steady growth, the club has become a wellspring of testimonials about the therapeutic value of table tennis for Parkinson's patients. Medical science is finally catching on to the connection. As Dr. Elana Clar of North Jersey Brain and Spine Center reports, "We've come to find that playing ping pong is a fantastic way of working on hand-eye coordination, and exercising your cognitive skills. People have noticed reduction in their tremors, people have noticed improvements in their handwriting, and it overall just improves everybody's activities of daily living." Last October, Ping Pong Parkinson hosted the inaugural Parkinson's Word Championships. Held at the Westchester Table Tennis Center, the event drew over 60 players from a dozen countries. Now, good news has caught on across the Hudson River. Starting tomorrow, the Wang Chen Table Tennis Club in Westwood, New Jersey will host the second official branch of Ping Pong Parkinson every Thursday at 6:30. Founder Nenad Bach will be on hand for the groundbreaking ribbon-cutting ceremony. With any luck, he will bring his guitar.

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