A GoFundMe page has been set up for 25-year-old Olivia, who was hit by a man driving a stolen Tesla onto the Pacific Beach boardwalk earlier this month.
“She always just had this amazing aura around her of this happiness and just good vibes,” said Ocean Pacific Gym employees, LuAnn Wendt.
Olivia is the woman identified by staff at Ocean Pacific Gym as a cherished member and the person hospitalized for days following the incident.
“She was simply taking a walk for a lunch break and life changed in a second. Olivia suffered two broken ribs and two fractured vertebrae,” said Ocean Pacific Gym owner, Kent Cornell in a social media post.
Looking to capitalize on the compassion of the community he’s built over the past five years, Cornell is hoping to capitalize on the compassion of his gym community.
He and his team launched an online fundraising page on Monday where he donated $5,000.
The money raised is part of an effort to help smooth Olivia’s return to the active life she led, that included: strength training, tennis and Lagree, a specialized Pilates workout.
“Let this girl get all the therapy she needs, and she’s one of the community members, and, you know, it’s kind of a beautiful thing when the community comes together and takes care of one of its own,” said Cornell.
Olivia’s gym family is not only trying to muscle up enough money to help support her for the next six months.
“She’s just a light, and we miss her, we want to see her back here, and we want to see her shining again,” said Wendt.
They’re hoping she will be able to lend her light as a Lagree instructor when she’s back on her feet and certified.
The man accused of stealing the Tesla, Juan Antonio Gonzaba, pleaded not guilty a couple of weeks ago.
The district attorney’s office says he has a lengthy criminal history. If convicted, he could face 24 years in prison.