Coach Taylor's Recovery After Biking Accident

We are asking for your support in assisting Mark "Coach" Taylor in his recovery from a traumatic accident. Coach Taylor is a man of faith who has been a mentor to his students and athletes, and has been a proponent of fitness essentially all of his life. He believes that everyone should give back to their community, which he has done over the past 41 years. Coach Taylor has coached high school track and field since 1983, and has taught Physical Education (PE) for 22 years in the Elk Grove Unified School District. As a track coach he has led his teams to multiple section championships, and has sent many athletes to the State of California High School State Track Meet. He encourages his athletes to use sports as a pathway to help pay for a good college education, and to give back to those coming after them. As a result of his dedication he has received Teacher of the Year, Coach of the Year, and has been inducted into the Cosumnes River College Hall of Fame, where he ran track for 2 years.

Many of us started our fitness journeys on his track teams or as peers witnessing his work ethic. Even in his later years, he continues to lead us by example. Biking 200 miles a week, running numerous miles a week, training marital arts multiple times a week, and benching 225 for reps!

Coach Taylor planned to retire at the end of this school year and spend more time with his family and friends, exercising, coaching, and continuing to give back to his community. Unfortunately his plans have been interrupted by a traumatic accident. On the morning of November 8, 2023, while riding his bike to work, he was struck by a car. After 3 months in ICU and rehab, multiple surgeries, and life threatening conditions, he is now home and continuing his recovery and adaptation process. He has a long recovery and needs our help.

We are Coach Taylor's Care Team, all banding together to help make this difficult transition as easy as possible. We have all benefitted from Coach Taylor's big heart. For his track athletes, he has been a positive mentor, leader, teacher, coach, father-figure, accountability partner and advocate. For his PE students, he encourages them to be the best they can everyday and to make the most of the opportunities available to them. For his colleagues, he haas been an easy going friend, entertaining with his witty stories, a source of wise counsel, and a pleasure to work with. He always finds time to check in, all while making time to be a great husband, father, and grandfather for his family. Our hope is to reciprocate his impact on our lives by giving that same positive energy and support back to him now, when he needs us most.

We are graciously requesting your assistance in raising funds to cover home remodeling, the purchase of mobility devices and adaptive fitness equipment, and specialized physical therapy to support his desire to build back into his active lifestyle. If you can assist financially, through prayer, and/or sharing this fundraiser, we would greatly appreciate it, everything helps!