ROLLING ROUND THE KOMODOS
A STORY OF COURAGE, COMMUNITY AND POSSIBILITY
At 3-1-5 Health Club, we often talk about positively changing lives through health, fitness, wellbeing and community.
Every now and then, a story comes along that perfectly captures what those words truly mean.
This is one of those stories.
Meet Shaun and Andy
Long-time 3-1-5 members Shaun Gash and Andy Bell have both experienced challenges that would stop many people in their tracks.
Shaun is a wheelchair-using paraplegic amputee, paralysed from the chest down. Andy is a right below-the-knee amputee who has overcome a long history of injuries and health challenges.
Yet what stands out most about either man isn’t what they’ve lost.
It’s what they’ve gained.
Resilience.
Determination.
Perspective.
And an unwavering belief that life is still full of adventure.
Training Beyond Limitations
For the past two years, Shaun has worked closely with 3-1-5 Personal Trainer Maddy.
What began as preparation for the Zambezi Challenge evolved into something much bigger.
Together, they developed a training programme focused not on disability, but ability.
As Shaun explains:
“Maddy has always looked at my ability and developed my core and balance. As someone paralysed from the chest down, this isn’t easy. But she has continually found ways to challenge me and help me improve.”
The results have been transformational.
At 55 years old, Shaun says he feels fitter, stronger and healthier than he has for many years.
The journey has also helped Maddy grow professionally, developing specialist skills, confidence and experience in adaptive fitness and inclusive coaching.
A New Chapter for Andy
Six months ago, Andy joined Shaun and Maddy’s training sessions.
Having discovered a passion for scuba diving through his friendship with Shaun, Andy wanted to build the strength, balance and physical confidence needed to embrace an exciting new chapter in life.
He credits Maddy’s creativity and determination for helping him achieve that.
“Maddy constantly pushes me beyond my normal comfort zone and designs innovative programmes tailored specifically to my needs. Her belief in my ability has helped me flourish in a world that doesn’t always cater for people with limitations.”
The partnership between Shaun, Andy and Maddy has become an inspiring example of what can happen when people work together towards a common goal.
While Andy won’t be joining the Rolling Round the Komodos expedition, his adventure is only just beginning. He will be taking part in the very first Adaptive Scuba Retreat in 2027, continuing his remarkable journey and proving that new possibilities can begin at any stage of life.
The Komodo Challenge
This mid-September, Shaun will undertake the extraordinary Rolling Round the Komodos expedition—an ambitious sea kayaking challenge across Indonesia’s breathtaking Komodo National Park.
The challenge aims to raise vital funds for four fantastic charities while also providing sports equipment and opportunities for local children and schools.
Even more inspiring is the fact that Maddy will be joining the expedition herself, stepping well outside her own comfort zone to support Shaun and the wider mission.
It is a challenge that represents everything they have been working towards over the past two years:
Courage
Resilience
Teamwork
Inclusion
Adventure
Purpose
More Than a Gym
Stories like this remind us that 3-1-5 is so much more than a health club.
It’s a place where friendships are formed.
A place where confidence is rebuilt.
A place where people discover what they are truly capable of.
Every day, our team works with members of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to help them move better, feel stronger and live fuller lives.
Shaun and Andy are living proof that health and fitness are not reserved for the few—they are for everyone.
Their journeys demonstrate that obstacles do not define us.
Our response to them does.
How You Can Help
We’d love the entire 3-1-5 community to get behind Shaun and Maddy as they prepare for the Rolling Round the Komodos challenge this September.
To learn more about the expedition and support their fundraising efforts, please visit:
Together, let’s help raise awareness, raise funds and inspire even more people to believe that anything is possible.
From all of us at 3-1-5, thank you, Shaun, Andy and Maddy.
You represent the very best of our community.
#1LifeLivingWell
#AbilityNotDisability
#Team315
#RollingRoundTheKomodos