For 41 years, Chris Pincoskie has lived his life in a wheelchair — if the definition of lived means defying the unfortunate circumstances life has handed him by doing what makes him happy anyway.

Pincoskie, a 41-year-old Pennsylvania native who has lived in Powell for the past three years, suffers from cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder caused by a non-progressive brain injury or malformation that occurs while a child’s brain is under development. Pincoskie’s legs are mostly non-functioning victims of the disorder, as well as his right hand, which is slightly turned in on itself, along other side effects.

Despite these physical setbacks, Pincoskie has spent more than half his life in gyms, strengthening his muscles in an attempt to maximize the use of a body broken down by his disorder.

“Fitness has always been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Pincoskie said before a workout Thursday at Northwest College’s Johnson Fitness Center. “The last time I was home (in Pennsylvania) in May, my mom showed me a picture of me when I was five, holding one of those sand-filled dumbbells doing a bicep curl. So I guess working out was always a big thing to me.”

Pincoskie’s determination didn’t stop with the weight room. Despite having little use of his legs, a sophomore-aged Pincoskie joined the Shamokin Area High School (Pennsylvania) wrestling team, despite the fact he knew he’d have to wrestle from his knees as opposed to his feet.

“I wrestled from my sophomore year to my senior year, and that’s where working out became really prevalent,” he said. “I had to work hard to keep competitive. I had to make the parts of my body that I could use stronger to keep myself competitive against guys who could use their entire bodies.”

Pincoskie’s determination hasn’t left him, as he’s continued intensive weight training for a total of 23 years. Before it became a casualty of a declining economy several years ago, Pincoskie also ran and trained at a gym in Pennsylvania, giving him a chance to fulfill another passion: helping others stay healthy — a heartwarming, if not ironic development.

“As much as I really like working out, I love helping other people reach their goals,” Pincoskie explained. “I’ve been doing this for a long time now, and I really just enjoy helping people get the results they want. That’s really what I love the most.”

Pincoskie has been unable to rekindle that dream in recent years, as he now studies at NWC and has been limited by his disorder. When he eventually arrived in Powell, he was even temporarily forced to give up weightlifting, as he was unable to find anyone willing to adjust to his special needs while training.

Then, Pincoskie met Powell resident Frank Roth, 57, during a stroll downtown, and Roth immediately offered to help his new-found friend.

“He’s just a nice guy, and he just needed a hand,” Roth said. “What he does, despite the cerebral palsy, is just so impressive. And not only is he here for himself, but he’s helped me and others with our workouts too. It’s just amazing.”

Roth recently stepped back from his duties as Pincoskie’s spotter, and in his place stepped 21-year-old Ray Ramos and 15-year-old Damion Espinosa. The two friends grew close to Pincoskie earlier this year, and quickly volunteered their time to help their friend reach the gym several days throughout the week. Ramos and Espinosa are not employed by a disability center. They do not accept payments from the state of Wyoming or from Pincoskie. They’re simply there to help their friend.

“Chris is just a great guy,” Ramos said. “When I first met him, he immediately helped me start working out and made me feel better about myself. How could you not want to help someone like that.”

“It’s just awesome to watch him,” Espinosa added. “He’s just fun to be around, and honestly, watching what he does is just inspiring.”

At the end of the day, Pincoskie said that inspiring others is what he ultimately wants to do with his life. He said his condition, which an estimated 500,000 U.S. children and adults are currently suffering from, does not have to be a restriction. If anything, it’s just another challenge, like tackling a new personal best on the weight bench.

“No matter the disability, you can still get out and do things,” Pincoskie said. “For me, it’s almost a matter of life and death. If I wasn’t working out pretty much every day, I might lose use of my arms, or my neck or something else.

“It’s important to fight back and really make the most of your situation.”