Twenty years ago, Patricia Jefferies made a New Year’s resolution to improve her overall health and she is still carrying that resolution forward today. Through health challenges, including a significant surgery, Jefferies has overcome it all with her “gym rat” consistency.
At the monthly Derby Recreation Commission board meeting on Jan. 13, Jefferies was named the Trina Bauer Inspirational Wellness Award winner.
The Trina Bauer Inspirational Wellness Award is an annual honor, established in 2019, given to an individual nominated by the community who makes positive lifestyle changes and inspires others along their journey. Bauer was an assistant superintendent who spent 31 years at the DRC. In 2018, the DRC named the Inspirational Wellness Award after Bauer for her longtime service to the community and for inspiring others along their wellness journeys.
Jefferies retired in 2006 and made a resolution to add structure to her life — something she felt was missing from her new routine. She decided to prioritize her health and recruited her son to join her, and she has been a mainstay at the Derby Recreation Center ever since.
“When you retire, you lose all the structure in your life, and I quickly became aware that you need some structure,” Jefferies said. “I thought I should start getting that structure, so I started coming to the gym with my son at first. Then he dropped out, but I kept coming.”
Jefferies lives with brain damage caused by a cavernous malformation, which resulted in weakness and tremors on her left side and required significant surgery to partially remove it. The condition requires her to work her entire body — especially her left side — to keep those muscles strong and maintain mobility. Fortunately, Jefferies had already built the habit of regular exercise, which helped her return to the gym during recovery. Since then, she has remained motivated to stay fit.
“It would have been a lot harder to come back after the surgery if I had not been somewhat fit,” Jefferies said. “Using the DRC and exercise was a very important tool. I’m brain-damaged with weakness on the left side. If I don’t work these muscles regularly, I slide back, and that’s pretty motivating. The thought of going into a wheelchair or a nursing home — that’s kind of motivating.”
Jefferies has grown to be a familiar face at the DRC and even continued her wellness journey during the pandemic. During COVID-19, the recreation center was forced to shut down, but Jefferies didn’t let that stop her from staying active. She maintained her routine, even though she missed her fellow “gym rats,” whom she saw regularly.
With the help of DRC personal trainer and 2022 award recipient Cindy Chase, Jefferies works her entire body through a personalized workout plan. Chase challenged her throughout the process and helped her build the stamina needed for a memorable trip to Italy with her granddaughter in 2024.
“Cindy [Chase] keeps my rapidly fossilizing body going,” Jefferies said. “We work the whole body. I am 73 years old, so some of what we do is challenging for me, but she makes it fun. I don’t dread my workouts with her because she makes them fun and challenging.”
By winning the award, Jefferies will have the opportunity to be involved with the DRC and the Derby Health Collaborative Initiative throughout the year. She expressed gratitude for the recognition as her wellness journey continues.
“It’s very humbling,” Jefferies said. “I’m sure there are a lot of other people who are good candidates for this award, and I’m very honored to receive it.”
Cody Friesen is the sports editor for the Derby Informer. Contact him with sports tips at sports@derbyinformer.com, and follow @Derby_Sports on Twitter for the latest updates.
