Walking to Wheels to Wodapalooza

I’m Darren Thomas,

Just over 16 Years ago I was playing Rugby for the Lions 7’s, had gone to SA Champs for kickboxing and was in the gym everyday. It all came to an abrupt end when I was stabbed and shot point blank in a house robbery and left for dead, paralyzed from the chest down. 

Contemplating giving up and fighting a lot of adversity and struggle, my hopes of any sporting accolades or achievements were gone. I thought life was over. 

With a lot of Faith, support and Determination I decided to pick myself up and start living. Fast forward a few years down the line and I have just Qualified for the biggest CrossFit competition in the world, Wodapalooza in Miami in the Adaptive Seated division in January. I will be the first African Male Adaptive CrossFit athlete to compete internationally against the Top 10 best in the world. 

Through facing a lot of trauma, pain and failure I decided that I wanted to make a difference to others facing their own challenges. I wanted to show that with Faith, Hope and the right mindset anything is possible regardless of your circumstances. 

In times where so many have lost hope in our country and their lives I want to encourage and prove to people that there is so much to look forward to and to live for. 

In order to make an impact and share my story on an international stage I need your help. With your support I will be able to get myself and my Coach to Miami and compete in what just a few years ago was never even a glimpse of possibility for me. 

I want to make the country and everyone behind me proud and show that from devastation can come great inspiration and achievement.

Thank You for taking the time to hear my story and I really hope you will join me in my purpose of restoring hope to so many that have lost theirs.