ROCKINGHAM — Kandace Frye began her career at Richmond County’s FirstHealth Fitness Center as a fitness instructor in April 2012. She is now a membership representative for the center after a Jan. 10, 2014 car crash left her paralyzed from mid-chest down.

After overcoming many obstacles along the way, it was only fitting that the 23-year-old served as the motivational guest speaker for Tuesday’s “Books and Beyond” event held at Rockingham Middle School.

Frye calls herself “an open book,” and said during her car accident, the vehicle she was in flipped several times and left her with a P4 complete spinal cord injury.

“All I have is my arms and shoulders and a little bit of my chest,” she said. “That’s all I have.”

Spending the last two years confined to a wheelchair hasn’t slowed Frye down one bit, and her story compared similarly to one of the books the Battle of the Books teams has been reading over the last year entitled, “Out Of My Mind.” The book is about a girl who is in a wheelchair as a quadriplegic who only had mobility in her fingertips.

“Usually each year they do a competition, but this year they wanted to do something different,” Frye said about the Books and Beyond event. “I was there so they could have a comparison to the book. We’re both in a chair. It was comparing our situations, how we’re alike, how we’ve had to overcome things, how my attitude was in the beginning. Initially I was happy and positive. I went through a period of time when I was depressed. I’ve had to overcome it. No matter what the situation is you go through, if you have faith and perseverance, you can overcome any situation.”

Frye spoke on those subjects for between 30 to 40 minutes and included some time for questions and answers. She also showed the kids and teachers a video of herself so they could see some of the things she’s achieved since her wreck.

Frye continues to work out and hits the gym at least three or four times a week.

“She’s an extremely hard worker, and that contributes the most in how she’s continued to progress and move forward,” said Richmond County FirstHealth Fitness Center Facility Manager Jonathan Pope. “She does pull-ups in her wheelchair. It’s very impressive. She’s just a really motivated person, and she’s a really kind person as well. She’s a hard worker, and you can tell that’s what drives her. She doesn’t quit, and when she sets a goal she’s gonna hit it. She’s just really positive to be around. You can tell she appreciates being there.”

Richmond County Schools spokeswoman Ashley-Michelle Thublin said this year’s middle school Books and Beyond was less about competition and more about collaboration.

“Students from Ellerbe, Hamlet, Rockingham and Rohanen middle schools are no longer regurgitating literary details,” Thublin said on the school’s Facebook page. “Instead, they’re using their time together to discuss life experiences that relate to their main character.”

In addition to reading countless titles, this year the teams collected money to buy Frye a racing wheelchair. Unbeknownst to Frye, following her discussion of “Out of My Mind,” the students presented her with a check for more than $2,000. The money was raised by the school’s Battle of the Books teams by selling lollipops and other candy throughout the year at their respective schools.

Frye said the schools want to treat the event going forward as a “service project.”

“They wanted to give something to benefit me and help me out in the future,” she added.

Walking again is Frye’s No. 1 objective going forward as she tries to “get back on her feet, literally.” That was a question posed to her by a teacher during the Q&A session.

“I got asked that today,” she said. “One of the teachers asked me what my next step from here is.”

Scientists are currently using stem cell research to find a cure as quickly as possible to help patients like Frye put one foot in front of the other again.

Frye said it’s still a ways away, but she’s not giving up hope.

“That was encouragement to me. One day I want to walk again, but right now that’s not in God’s plan,” said Frye. “My goal is to keep staying strong and be an inspiration to people. I want to be an encouragement for other people that are going through things and tell them not to give up. Don’t let a bad day make you feel like you have a bad life.”

Reach reporter Matt Harrelson at 910-817-2674, follow him on Twitter @mattyharrelson and listen to him at 12:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on G-104.3 FM.

Matt Harrelson | Daily Journal Richmond County FirstHealth Fitness Center Member Representative Kandace Frye, center, served as the guest motivational speaker for Tuesday’s Books and Beyond event held at Rockingham Middle School. Students presented Frye with a check for more than $2,000 for the purchase of a racing wheelchair.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Kandace.jpgMatt Harrelson | Daily Journal Richmond County FirstHealth Fitness Center Member Representative Kandace Frye, center, served as the guest motivational speaker for Tuesday’s Books and Beyond event held at Rockingham Middle School. Students presented Frye with a check for more than $2,000 for the purchase of a racing wheelchair.

Matt Harrelson | Daily Journal Kandace Frye, 23, is a member representative for Richmond County’s FirstHealth Fitness Center in Rockingham, but on Tuesday she was the guest motivational speaker for the county middle schools’ Books and Beyond event held at Rockingham Middle School.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Frye.jpgMatt Harrelson | Daily Journal Kandace Frye, 23, is a member representative for Richmond County’s FirstHealth Fitness Center in Rockingham, but on Tuesday she was the guest motivational speaker for the county middle schools’ Books and Beyond event held at Rockingham Middle School.

By Matt Harrelson

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