To Planet Fitness^® member John Powers, Planet Fitness and exercise saved his life. Since March 2024, Powers has been a member of a Carolina Fitness gym in Shallotte, North Carolina, where he works out 4-5 times per week.

“Daily exercise keeps me healthy. It helps me recover. It gives me purpose. Some people start their day with coffee. I start mine with exercise: biking, lifting at Planet Fitness or stretching. That is what keeps me going,” said Powers.

John Powers is no novice to struggles. He was diagnosed with cancer when he was 34 but was able to fight through it. At 54, he had a five-level spinal fusion surgery to repair the spinal damage caused from the radiation treatment needed years earlier to treat the cancer. Just days after his spinal surgery, his daughter encouraged him to get out of bed and continue exercising. Before long, he was back to biking 20 miles a day, lifting weights and competing in the North Carolina Senior Games. Over the past five years, he earned 10 gold medals in shot-put and discus.

Things were looking up, but then tragedy struck him again at age 64. This past summer, he was in a car accident where he fractured his spine and ruptured his mesenteric artery. He was bleeding internally and his colon started to fail, so he had to have emergency surgery. His doctors credited his fitness as the major reason he survived. He luckily made a full recovery and is now back to hitting the weights and biking at Planet Fitness.

“You never know when your body might be tested to its absolute limit, so exercise will ensure you are always prepared if that test comes, and it will let you live a healthier life and may be the reason you get to keep living it,” said Powers.

Throughout all these struggles, he has gotten stronger, and he has learned the importance of continuing to show up for yourself, even when life keeps throwing hurdles. Planet Fitness gives members an affordable and judgement free place to work out and stay healthy.

“Fitness is not about medals or muscles. It is about resilience. It is about showing up. It is about doing what you can, especially when it is hard. Planet Fitness is a great environment for everyone to do that. If you think it is too late, it is not. You do not have to lift heavy or run fast. Any exercise is better than nothing,” said Powers.