Laura Radocaj said she got the idea to create Sunday Strong, a new nonprofit dedicated to “increasing physical activity in adults with disabilities,” while attending a Special Olympics golf tournament with her sister, Maria Colontrelle.
“I looked around and I saw that a lot of the population seemed fairly unhealthy,” she recalled.
“I started doing some research and learned that 91 percent of special needs individuals are not getting the required amount of exercise. That’s a problem,” said Radocaj, referencing the 150 minutes of weekly exercise recommended by the National Institutes of Health.
It resonated with Radocaj’s experiences when trying to include Colontrelle in her own fitness journey, recalling that her sister struggled to fit into group classes.
Radocaj began her quest to create a safe and inclusive space for her sister and others of that population to exercise.
“She’s always helped me and supported me. There wasn’t a lot for me to do before Sunday Strong,” said Colontrelle. “I like it. It’s helping us.”
With movement and physical activity for adults with intellectual disabilities as its mission, Sunday Strong has partnered with fitness providers to host free, weekly group exercises.
Participants, who are called athletes, can attend any of the classes offered at no charge.
Radocaj launched the program at Vero Strength + Conditioning after owners Wendy and Rob Shafranski offered their facility on Sundays, when it was otherwise closed.
Sunday Strong was born from the encouraging mantra they use each week.
“The first class had 13 athletes a week, and the parents had claimed their children didn’t really like to exercise,” recalled Radocaj.
“They came to their first class and they were hooked,” she added.
The success of that single class inspired her to formalize the effort, establishing Sunday Strong as a nonprofit.
Now, each Sunday morning, laughter and music fill the air as the athletes socialize and get ‘strong’ during the weekly functional fitness class. The classes serve as an opportunity for both the participants and their caregivers to build relationships.
Currently, 32 Sunday Strong athletes participate in 265 minutes of exercise per week. And, while the program started on a Sunday, they now partner with various other local facilities to offer classes five days a week. Open to individuals aged 16 and older, the program has expanded its offerings to include functional fitness, ballet, Zumba, basketball and boxing.
The success of Sunday Strong lies in its strategy of breaking down the barriers often found in regular gyms.
“Most gyms aren’t set up to accommodate that population,” said Wendy Shafranski, noting that the environment can be too overwhelming, especially for those with sensory issues.
“Gym intimidation is a real thing. We just wanted to make an easy bridge from their lives into the gym and make it fun as well,” she added.
The Sunday Strong environment is built on mutual support and inclusion, with volunteers and coaches encouraged to treat participants as typical athletes, who in turn bring an infectious, all-in energy to every session.
“You have so many people cheering you on, encouraging you. They’re with their peers,” Radocaj explained.
The physical benefits are profound, translating directly into greater independence and core strength.
But the program is also a social event and provides a crucial support network for caregivers.
“That program is just so encouraging for all the special needs kids because they can exercise, they can socialize. It has really expanded their world,” said Peggy Ward, who spoke about the profound impact it has had on her son Billy and his fiancée Peggy.
“I’ve benefited as much as they have. They’re getting exercise, and we’ve all made friends. It’s been very rewarding,” said Ward. “It’s been a wonderful opportunity for them. I would take them to do things, but this is a special kind of active for a special group of people.”
Gina Karshner, a coach and volunteer from the beginning, said she has witnessed remarkable transformations firsthand that extend beyond fitness, as participants gain the confidence to make new friends and try new things.
“It’s important for everyone, not just special needs people, to move more, work on their balance, and work on getting up off the floor. It’s been a great experience to see how far some of these athletes have come,” Karshner explained.
“The stronger you are, the more independent you can be,” agreed Shafranski.
She noted that functional strength is crucial, especially as athletes and their caregivers age, as it can effectively prepare them for life outside of the gym.
Sunday Strong has added an exciting new dimension through a partnership with Ballet Vero Beach and Riverside Theatre. BVB artistic director and CEO Adam Schnell described a pilot program that has recently added a layer of creative expression and specialized movement by offering a weekly ballet class.
More than just calorie burning, Schnell says it provides coordination and the emotional lift of moving to music while still being physically active.
“It also touches on a different brain-body connection than a fitness class or sport,” said Schnell.
Schnell praised the clear and effective structure of Sunday Strong, which raises money to pay the trainer or instructor, while their partner provides the instructor and the space.
“She has a mechanism and it works,” said Schnell.
The Arc of Indian River County, whose mission is to “empower individuals with special needs to achieve their life goals,” had a ready-made group of athletes anxious to work up a sweat with Sunday Strong. Rather than have their clients travel to separate locations, the class is held on their campus each week.
“Sunday Strong is about more than just exercise. It’s about creating friendships and partnerships by having a safe environment to bring people together. It’s accessing the community; it’s bringing the community to people with a disability,” said Heather Dales, Arc of Indian River County CEO.
What began as a class for one sister has become a powerful force for health, friendship, and empowerment for an entire community of Sunday Strong athletes.
For more information, visit SundayStrong.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
