Skip to content
Pay Bill
Careers
News
Make a Referral
Giving
Phone Numbers
    Request an Appointment

    Patch.com: Former Patient Returning To Gaylord To Compete In Gauntlet 5K In Wallingford

    2
    min. read

    A volunteer firefighter who was seriously injured while on the job is celebrating a return to Gaylord as a participant in the Gauntlet 5K.

    Vincent Salzo,Patch Staff, Posted Thu, Jun 12, 2025 at 9:40 pm ET
     

    WALLINGFORD, CT — A former patient at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare will be celebrating a full-circle moment when he returns to compete in the Gaylord Gauntlet 5K obstacle race Saturday morning in Wallingford.

    Eric Saunders, 28, will be returning to the grounds where he began his recovery from devastating injuries he suffered while on the job as a volunteer firefighter.

    Racing beside him in support will be Synergy Health & Wellness, the local practice that has helped guide his continued progress over the past 18 months, according to its founder TJ Dowling.

     

    Saunders was rushed to Hartford Hospital in November 2019 after being seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash while responding to a fire call as a volunteer firefighter in Hebron. He suffered extensive injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, fractured skull, multiple spinal fractures, a splenectomy, pulmonary contusions, and more.

    After surviving multiple surgeries and a prolonged hospital stay, he was transferred to Gaylord Hospital for intensive rehabilitation.

    Saunders faced a grueling recovery. Through determination and discipline, he made remarkable strides — ultimately returning to full-time work and active duty as a volunteer firefighter.

    In 2023, Saunders began working with Synergy Health & Wellness, a Wallingford-based practice that integrates mental health counseling, physical training, and holistic wellness services, according to Dowling.

    Dowling said that over the past 18 months, Synergy has supported Eric in building mental and physical strength, structure, and a renewed focus on health, meaning, and purpose.

    “This isn’t just a race,” Dowling said. “It’s a celebration of how far Eric has come. His journey has been nothing short of incredible — marked by grit, gratitude, and consistent effort. The life he’s continuing to build reflects the strength and determination he’s shown every step of the way. It’s been a privilege for Synergy to support his progress and to see all that he continues to achieve.”

    Now, returning to Gaylord not as a patient but as a participant, Saunders will take on the Gaylord Gauntlet, a 5K obstacle course designed to challenge athletes of all abilities. The event raises funds for Gaylord’s Sports Association, which supports individuals with physical disabilities through adaptive sports programs.

    “Coming back to Gaylord to compete in the Gauntlet is a surreal experience,” Saunders said. “Being able to participate in this 5K course after being immobile upon admission fills me with pride, as well as gratitude for the doctors and therapists who worked with me to help me get back to the active life I enjoy.”