In 2016, 38-year-old Percy Sekhotho, a trainer and long distance runner from Nellmapius in Mamelodi was involved in a near death accident while on his way to work. The taxi he was traveling in was involved in a head on collision with a bus. Four passengers were in a critical condition and two of them are now living with disabilities. Percy woke up a month later in a hospital bed and doctors told him that he had lost the function of his legs. "When the doctors told me that I could no longer walk, the only thing I heard was that my running career was over. I had plans to one day win the Comrades Marathon, at this point I had competed twice in 2013 and I had been training very hard that year to compete again, before the life changing accident,' he explained.

LEGS TO BE AMPUTATED

While in a coma, the doctors told his family that they were going to amputate his legs because they were badly injured and he would no longer be able to use them.My sister negotiated with the hospital not to amputate because she knew that this would kill me. They listened to her and ended up performing an operation to reconstruct his left foot and sole that were completely damaged. Percy added that once he was discharged he dedicated his life on his recovery and relearning how to walk.              "I promised myself to only focus on the positive things happening around me and not to allow any negative energy into my space.My family was my pillars of strength, they never, not once, made me feel like I was a burden, even when I depended on them for things that I previously was able to do,"  he added.

ON THE RIGHT TRACK 

Percy had to re-learn how to walk, he started exercising every morning in his bedroom and read a lot fitness, and rebuilding one's fitness after an accident. It was difficult in the beginning but he pushed himself harder, he went from being able to do 100 push ups to struggling with just one but his winning attitude kept him going. Months into his recovery he was now able to walk with one crutch. He then joined a local gym and he walked there to improve his speed. In 2021, he went on to participate in a 5km charity fun walk/run which he finished in 25 minutes. "I was proud of myself for reaching this milestone, this proved that  I was on the right track."

CHANGING HIS HOME INTO A FITNESS CENTRE

In 2021, Percy moved back to Mamelodi to rebuild his life and decided to turn his home into a fitness centre. He made a pact with the universe that if he successfully regained the function of his legs, he would to dedicate his life to helping others with their health and fitness. Percy is living proof that with good health and fitness one can recover from their death bed and lead a health lifestyle." It is possible, if i could do it, when medical doctors had written my mobility off, anyone can do it,' he added.