Facility helping clients work toward mobility
At first glance, Project Walk Houston looks like any other gym.
The only difference is that all of the equipment and training methods used in the facility are designed specifically to help clients recover from paralysis.
Project Walk was founded in 1999 in California by Ted and Tammy Dardzinski and Eric Harness to help those with disabilities achieve a higher quality of life and mobility through activity-based recovery programs. The forprofit company has franchises across the country.
The location in Missouri City, at 3281 Rocky Creek Drive, was started by Mark and Cindy Dremely last December.
The couple’s son Brooks was injured in a motocross accident in 2013. After finishing medical treatment and rehab programs, he still wanted more help recovering.
“He was like, ‘I’m not really ready,’” Cindy Dremely recalled. “We were searching for what’s next.”
The 18-year old is paralyzed from the chest down.
“It was just an accident,” Dremely said. “He was practicing, and he broke his neck.”
The family researched programs around the United States and finally found Project Walk Paralysis Recovery Centers in California. They had to travel for Brooks’ continued treatment.
“We kept asking the whole time, ‘Why isn’t there one in Houston?’” Dremely said. “Finally, we decided it was time. There were franchise opportunities available — so we brought it to Houston.”
Her son uses the gym three times a week.
“He’s in great physical shape,” she said. “He’s up on the treadmill or he’s on a spin bike.”
She said that Project Walk caters to each client’s needs by offering options for recovery.
“We don’t have a set program,” Dremely said. “It’s all tailored to what our client can do. It’s not an ordinary gym, and we don’t hire regular trainers. Everyone is very specialized.”
She added that each staff member is trained in California on best practices for helping paralyzed individuals with a variety of spinal cord injuries, as well as clients who have suffered a stroke or who have symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
“Our staff members understand what the person is going through and what complications may come up during the training,” Dremely said.
She added that clients want to work out in a setting that reminds them of the gyms where they were members before they were injured or diagnosed.
“Most of our clients say, ‘Wow this is just like the place where I used to work out,’ ” Dremely said. “It’s very comforting for them to come in, and it’s not like a medical setting at all. It’s psychologically a very upbeat place.”
She added that the training helps clients in a number of ways.
“Exercise increases endorphins, which helps the body in many, many ways,” she said. “Cardio workouts get blood flowing through the body. It’s important to stabilize blood pressure and reduce any negative things that can happen from sitting in one position.”
Ross LaBove, lead specialist at Project Walk, explained that gym environment aids in recovery.
“There’s a lot of science behind what we do,” he said. “It’s different than the typical physical therapy center. We brag about the vibe we have here.”
LaBove said Project Walk has a unique approach.
“We’re trying to get the body moving in old patterns,” he said. “We use an established method. We’ve been around since the 1990s, and it’s been proven through the test of time.”
LaBove added that clients not only find a place to exercise at Project Walk — they also discover a new social group.
“This is their social outlet,” he said. “Everyone wants to walk again. But everything that comes before that — on a day-to-day basis — makes your life easier.”
Clients come from as far as Oklahoma and Louisiana to take advantage of the facility, which is the only location in the southern part of the United States.
“They’ll come in for a week and do an intensive program,” Dremely said. “We want them to know there’s hope. They may be confined to a chair part of the time — but not all the time.”
She recognizes, however, that for those recovering from paralysis, the costs can be immense. Project Walk is not covered through insurance. Costs are $100 per hour.
To help more individuals sign up for training, Project Walk Houston plans to offer financial aid.
The business is hosting its first Project Walk Houston Fun Run-roll on Sept. 19 at Sienna Plantation, 500 Waters Lake Blvd., in Missouri City.
This event will include a 10K handcycle race, a 5K run and walk and 1-mile “Kids Run.”
“Our family dream is not to let finances be the factor that turns people away,” Dremely said. “We want to build up a general fund so we can sponsor clients who need support.”
Funds raised from the run will remain in Houston for local clients.
In the meantime, Dremely encourages residents to visit the location.
“Come in and meet our trainers,” she said. “It’s hard to explain what it’s like until you visit. It gives people a whole new outlook on life. They’re usually very uplifted to know that there’s hope.”
Damien Maya is one of the regular clients at the gym. After being shot outside of a club in Houston in 2011, he suffered a spinal cord injury and moved to Los Angeles so he could receive training at Project Walk.
“I grew up an athlete,” he said. “Doing training in a traditional clinic was too slow-paced. I was a 22-year-old college student who enjoyed working out. So, I sold my house in Houston.”
Maya said that he enjoyed the custom-tailored routines and was thankful when the Dremelys brought the program to Houston.
“This is a place you want to be,” he said. “The trainers are incredible people, and they’re fun. I see continuous progress week to week. I love it here, and I can’t see myself getting this anywhere else.”
Maya also said the social aspect has been important for him. “You’re trying to get your life back – mentally, emotionally, physically and socially,” he said. “This is a first step.”