A marathon of marathons for woman with a purpose
A yellow tack on a marathon map on the wall at Move Adapted Fitness marks how far Rachel Nesbitt has come in the 42-kilometre route since she started the race nearly five months ago.
“Sometimes after a full day of work I will come. It takes me 45 minutes to do a kilometre,” Nesbitt said.
Cerebral palsy has prevented her from being able to walk or stand independently, so she uses parallel bars, a cross-trainer and elliptical machines adapted for those with physical disabilities.
Nesbitt started her version of the goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon on April 1 and has about two kilometres left.
“It’s definitely a workout,” she said.
Nesbitt expects to complete her marathon before the official city-wide one on Oct. 9. At that event, her husband plans to push her wheelchair in the eight-kilometre family race with their elder daughter running as well.
She is completing the races to raise awareness and funds for adapted fitness — exercise programs and equipment for people with disabilities. She hopes to raise $1,000 for Move Adapted Fitness and Rehabilitation Society, a non-profit run by volunteers.
“A lot of my independence is me keeping strong,” said Nesbitt, who has two daughters, Ava, 12, and Bethany, 4, with husband James Nesbitt.
The family lives in Saanich. James, an artist, works from home, while Rachel, a communications officer for the provincial government, commutes to Victoria.
She said exercise is very important, helping people with cerebral palsy to maintain muscle function and strength. “If you don’t use, it you lose it.” Before coming to Move fitness, Nesbitt relied on her husband to help her exercise. He had to lift her in and out of exercise machines from her wheelchair.
At Move, which opened three years ago, volunteers help members with machines and workouts. The cost is comparable to other gyms at $50 a month.
Nesbitt said it’s been liberating to go to a gym on her own.
“I really wanted to get the word out because not a lot of places cater to the disabled community and elderly. And some people can feel isolated,” she said.
“Exercise is more than physical. It has to do with a mental state of being. When you feel better, you have a better life.”
On a recent day at the small gym at 531 Yates St., an elderly man in a motorized chair was helped onto an exercise bike, an elderly woman stretched on a raised, cushioned platform and a young man worked out in a standing machine.
Kristian Oakenshield moved to Victoria from Inuvik less than two months ago for better access to rehabilitative services. The 26-year-old broke his neck in a car crash when he was 17 and is paralyzed below the lower chest.
“The goal is mobility and function,” said Oakenshield, who visits the gym daily and sees an acupuncturist.
“Determination and grit is the only way I’ll reach it.”
Hillary Acosta is the president of the board for Move Adapted Fitness and Rehabilitation Society. She also volunteers at the gym, located next to her physiotherapy practice. She said the gym has about 30 regular members and a dozen others who drop in. It has 25 volunteers and offers chair exercise and dance classes.
“People with disabilities need to exercise. But it’s so difficult to find a place and help,” Acosta said. The gym is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., six days a week, but she said they hope to expand its hours.
Acosta said the gym approached Nesbitt about participating in one of the marathon runs to help inspire others.
“We’re really proud of her,” she said. “She has always been dedicated to fitness.”
Rachel Nesbitt’s fundraising page is pledge.at/move.