sarah anderson

sarah learned to exercise again after being hit by a drunk driver.

Sarah Anderson was hit by a drunk driver when she was just 22 years old. The accident left her unable to walk and confined to a wheelchair. A former triathlete, she believed exercise was the best way to recover from her accident, but most gyms wouldn’t let her join for insurance reasons. But she kept looking until she found 24 Hour Fitness - where she found Wheelchair-friendly facilities and a trainer who took on the challenge of helping her re-learn how to exercise. The process wasn’t easy, but that didn’t stop her. She says, “I pride myself on being able to accomplish the impossible. You have to wake up every day kicking and fighting.” One year into her training program, she’s lost fat, built muscle, and says, “I couldn’t be happier...I feel better than I have in years.”

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Story Comments

jeanfifi

jeanfifi's picture

Great Work Sarah! Im realy inspired by you anytime I hurt I think of you and nothing hurts. Keep up the good work everyone is so enlightened by your hard work and drive.

Dennis Collins

Posted by jeanfifi on Sun, 08/10/2008 - 16:12

AlvinM

AlvinM's picture

Hi Sarah,
I am very happy to hear you are doing ok. I was also hit by a reckless driver when I was 22 and suffered similar injuries to yours. Having the opportunity to be active again, to exercise, and participate in sports like I did before I got injured, has had an incredibly positive effect on all the areas of my life.

Keep up the good work!
Alvin Malave

feel free to contact:
alvin.malave@gmail.com

Posted by AlvinM on Fri, 04/10/2009 - 15:20

sacramento

sacramento's picture

That was a great recovery of yourself, even on a wheelchair, you can still make progress on your goals. Keep it up and you'll be in great shape in no time.

Maurice Hollins
Sacramento, CA

Posted by sacramento on Mon, 04/13/2009 - 07:13

wifeycomes1st

wifeycomes1st's picture

Sarah! I am a employee at 24 and I am so happy to see that 24 could help you get to where you wanna be. Your story simply amazes me and makes me feel like sometimes we take things for grandted. AT any given moment something can happen to us. I thank god for being here day after day. Your a inspiration Sarah. Kepp up the wonderful work.

<3 Miss Marie

Posted by wifeycomes1st on Sun, 07/26/2009 - 08:23

garyrgiaconi

garyrgiaconi's picture

Sarah, congratulations on your recovery to date. As the son of a musician killed driving back from a gig during the war years by a drunk driver, I share your pain. I have not had a drink since 1982, about the time I joined 24 Hour. Working out became my way out of the rut I was in.
I have a neighbor working on wheel chair accessible gym equipment so a person confined to a chair through no fault of their own do not have to transfer out of the chair to work out and able bodied people can use the same piece next.
I would be interested in hearing how your work outs started. Did you have a trainer? Did you have to transfer out of your chair onto the machines? Would new designs in gym equipment help.
Good luck God bless Keep on working out gary

Posted by garyrgiaconi on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 12:39

euroman

euroman's picture

That's awsome, good for you.

Posted by euroman on Mon, 11/02/2009 - 02:23

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