The 'accidental' motivation for GoodLife Fitness

Two weeks into his first year at The University Western Ontario, David Patchell-Evans was involved in a serious motorcycle accident resulting in his upper body being torn apart including muscle damage, broken bones and serious shoulder and chest injuries. Eight arduous months of rehabilitation set in motion a chain of events which ignited and fueled a life-long passion for fitness.

During his recovery at the Fowler Kennedy Sports Medicine Clinic Patch observed elite athletes who were working out to recover from various injuries and was motivated by their pursuit to become faster, stronger and healthier ̶  Patch followed their lead, starting to work out half an hour a day, three times a week, then gradually increasing to the point where he was exercising four to five  hours a day. He became fascinated by exercise’s healing abilities and the incredible resilience of the human body.

It was the allure of personal fitness that inspired Patch to switch from Business Studies to Physical Education. At the same time, Patch reached a new level of commitment to his own level of personal fitness. To help strengthen his shoulder, Patch took up rowing and found that he had quite an interest in the sport. He began training at London’s first fitness club as part of his pursuit with Canada’s National Rowing team, a career that would lead to five Canadian National Rowing Championships.

In 1979, using money he made from his local snow plow business, Patch purchased the fitness club where he’d been working out.  That facility would later go on to be branded the first GoodLife Fitness club.

And so began the vision to give every Canadian the opportunity to live a fit and healthy good life.