By Robert Mulder - St. Thomas Aquinas HS
FORT LAUDERDALE | Despite being severely injured in a car accident last year, St. Thomas Aquinas High School senior Alex Murray is motivated to heal, continue her sport, and give back.
“A broken femur, a shattered hip, a broken jaw, a fractured sternum, seven broken teeth, and a severe concussion that led to acute memory loss are blessings compared to how the day could have turned out,” said Alex, who still attends physical therapy several times a week and is in need of several more procedures.
But her passion for horseback riding and her love for her horse and team keep her going, along with all of her friends and family.
In her junior year of high school, Alex spearheaded a service project called Walkers for Walkers with one of her best friends, Molly Secrest, to fundraise for the trauma unit at Broward Health North Hospital. This very unit is where she spent 10 days recovering back in 2013. Alex and St. Thomas’ Junior Leadership class raised money for 36 medical walkers for the unit.
Her drive to give back did not end there. Now Alex another of her best friends, Nicky Stalder, are planning a walk-a-thon — Strong Strides for Stroke Awareness — to benefit the Ranse Jones Stroke Awareness Fund. The walk-a-thon is set for Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. Ranse Jones was a well-known firefighter and volleyball player, as well as a loving family member.
The two seniors are being supported by their fellow classmates and families, and are hoping their community will do the same.
“I don’t think I will ever be able to repay everyone that helped me, but I can certainly try,” Alex said. For more information about Strong Strides for Stroke Awareness Charity Walk-A-Thon, email Alex and Nicky at [email protected].
