By Scott Neinas Nick Vollmer isn’t letting a debilitating injury weaken his life. He’s the same person as he was a year ago, he says, before a 50-ton hi-lo tipped over and pinned him underneath. Mr. Vollmer, 19 at the time, was paralyzed from the waist down. He vowed to walk again, and without saying it, vowed to live. “I’m still as crazy as I was. I still do everything I used to do,” he said recently from his home. Mr. Vollmer entered a weightlifting competition and took third place in his division Saturday. Not bad for his first time. “I used to lift weights (before the injuries), but now I’m a little more serious about it,” he said. Three times a week he pumps iron at the Powerhouse Gym on S. Monroe St. It was there that he found out about the Roy Begley Memorial Bench Press Challenge held at Frenchtown Square Mall. More than 50 men and women competed in the event, which benefited the Muscular Dystrophy Association in honor of Roy Begley, who died in 1995 due to complications from the disease. Mr. Vollmer’s pledge to walk again is still valid. He now can get around with a walker and leg braces. He goes to physical and occupational therapy twice a week, in addition to his weight training. Saturday’s event did much to recharge the batteries of Mr. Vollmer, who admitted he was inspired by Mr. Begley’s father, Austin, who spoke to him at the competition. “It was all good, I mean, telling me how Roy felt during his illness. That’s basically what I’m doing, fighting on every day no matter what. He said I could talk to him whenever I wanted. That meant a lot. Mr. Vollmer also credits his family and friends for unwavering support. “It’s been there, all my family and friends. It would be impossible to single anyone out because they’ve all been so helpful,” he said. Last July, Mr. Vollmer was on a crew that was trying to lift a submerged boat out of the River Raisin at Riverfront Marina. As the hi-lo was carrying the boat, it tipped over, pinning him underneath. His dad, Ron, said he’s proud of his son’s work. “He’s made a little progress, but he’s got a long way to go,” he said.
Monroe Evening News
March 29, 2000