We recently connected with Lauren Bradley and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

Working at SCI-FIT Dublin, I constantly heard horror stories on the cost of equipment, lack of ability to shower or enter ones home, reoccurring pressure sores and illness due to inability to pay for standing frames or proper home assistance. I began to do my research into local foundations and grant opportunities in hopes of helping. Most of the resources I encountered that offered assistance had specific requirements such as time since diagnosis or specific diagnosis, or they offered assistance with recreational and social activities. Although, each of these programs assisted individuals there was so much more that needed to be done for survivors to truely be able to recover defining moment happened when I was training a client with a rare neurological disorder, her mother would talk to me about how they would max out their credit cards to be able to pay for her medication and therapy. At the time. there were no nonprofits in the area that could or would provide assistance due to specificity of her illness. I created The Perseverance Project to assist ALL individuals and their families to cover some of the costs associated with neurological disorders and spinal cord injuries. The road to recovery is expensive, but people shouldn’t have to do it alone.

Lauren , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Since I was a kid, I have always wanted to work in the field of kinesiology. Being a softball player, I have always loved exercise and understood the important role movement has on the body. Throughout college and masters degree I got the opportunity to work with different types of populations including athletes, mentally disabled, cardiac and pulmonary patients. In 2020 after completing my masters in exercise physiology, I took a position as a Neuro Exercise Specialist at SCI-FIT, a non-traditional exercise facility for individuals with neurological disorders and spinal cord injuries. Before I worked for SCI-FIT, I had no idea what out of pocket financial costs went along with having a neurological disorder or spinal cord injury. I had always assumed that insurance covered a majority of costs after injury or diagnosis including transportation, adapted home equipment including standing frames and portable ramps, and other necessary goods and services. After getting to know many of the clients at SCI-FIT, I learned the truth about how much is truely covered under insurance plans. The result, insurance does not cover much. I constantly heard horror stories on the cost of equipment, lack of ability to shower or enter ones home, reoccurring pressure sores and illness due to inability to pay for standing frames or proper home assistance. I began to do my research into local foundations and grant opportunities in hopes of helping. Most of the resources I encountered that offered assistance had specific requirements such as time since diagnosis or specific diagnosis, or they offered assistance with recreational and social activities. Although, each of these programs assisted individuals there was so much more that needed to be done to truely be able to recover. I am so proud of the growth we have made in such a short period of time and cannot wait to continue to grow every year. My goal for The Perseverance Project is to spread awareness on the realities of life after spinal cord injury or diagnosis and assist survivors to live healthy and independent lifes. There is life after injury or diagnosis, it’s just going to take a whole lot of perseverance to get there.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing our clientele and spreading awareness has been through the use of social media, word of mouth and working with local vendors and small businesses. With the help and support of SCI-FIT Sacramento, The Perseverance Project opened in January 2022. Through word of mouth from clients, family members and local supporters, we were able to begin spreading our message throughout Sacramentoa are and grow our social media following throughout the United States. As a small business, we strive to embrace other small and local businesses. Within the last 7 months, we have gotten the opportunity to be the community table at several local events and have been supported by 40 local vendors through in kind donations, social media shout outs, and fundraising partnership opportunities. Through the power and strength of our community we have continued to grow every month.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I could never imagine changing professions. As a Neuro Exercise Specialist, everyday is different; different clients, different trials and different set ups to try out. Not one client is the same and not everyday with that client will be great. It keeps things exciting. My favorite part of my profession is being able to watch my clients reach their goals no matter how small. Every week is full of firsts and it makes it exciting to see what the next day will bring,

Contact Info:

• Website: theperseveranceproject.squarespace.com
• Instagram: @theperseveranceproject2022
• Facebook: theperseveranceproject22