Video: Upbeat: Seattle power-lifting champ gets helping hand

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Mary Bryant of Seattle is a nationally recognized fitness expert and a powerlifting champion. He brings a lot of joy and good health into the lives of others, and now he's getting a little help himself.

Bryant keeps folks moving at the Southeast Seattle Senior Center, pushing them to do more than they think they can do.

There are some other things you should know about Mark Bryant. He's martial artist, and a good one. He's been doing kung fu since he was 11. He's a former world champion powerlifter. He's also legally blind and has a degenerative hip that needs replacing. And in the Southeast Seattle Senior Center community, he is much more than just the fitness instructor.

"We're all older than he is by a few years, so we kind of adopted him," said Jinnie Johnson, fitness class member. "He calls us his mothers and we thrive on that."

KING

Mary Bryant of Seattle is a nationally recognized fitness expert and a power lifting champion.

"He's a friend, he's a motivator, and a person that really encourages you to do your best at all times," said Arlen Walker, fitness class member.

Bryant is on the center's board of directors and often drops by for birthday parties for people he calls inspiring and loving.

"They are all my mothers and fathers, under one big roof," said Bryant. "And believe me they make that very clear when I'm not doing right."

Bryant's apartment is packed with proof of his strength and commitment to fitness, but the man called "awesome" on one magazine cover, a world champion powerlifter on a trophy, named the Enhance National Fitness Instructor of the Year is also in constant pain because of his degenerating hip.

Just sitting for an interview hurts and so does every step he takes in fitness class. Bryant doesn't have health insurance and has been gritting his teeth through the music and the agony for years.

"If he can do it in pain, it gives me no excuse," said Rod Lambe, U-Haul International. "It keeps me coming back every day."

A Seattle Times article about him inspired several total strangers to take action on his behalf. Lambe was one of those strangers who felt he had to help somehow.

"This is an incredible man - to take the bus all the way down to the center, or a few centers, and teach the class. It is amazing," said Lambe.

Several months of emails and phone calls later, Lambe and others connected Bryant with the University of Washington Medical Center and now there is a new hip on the way.

"I'm going to be looking forward to walking without any pain," said Bryant. "I'm going to be looking forward to exercising without any pain - standing up, sitting down, lying down without any pain. That's what I'm looking forward to."

A financial counselor at the University of Washington helped Bryant apply for Medicaid. He will likely qualify because of his income level. If he doesn't, Washington state's Charity Care program will cover the costs of hip replacement and follow up care.

Well deserved, say his clients - all those adoptive mothers and fathers. A new hip to go with a big heart.

"I hope he gets himself fixed so he can do all the things he wants to do, and I think he will," said Eileen Kaufman, fitness class member.

Bryant says his real mother is the inspiration behind his work with seniors. She's back east, still living. He keeps her in mind when he designs workouts for his older friends here.

Bryant will be out of action for at least three months, recovering from surgery. Meanwhile, the Southeast Seattle Senior Center is looking for a fill-in fitness instructor.

Anybody who wants to donate and help Bryant with expenses can do so at any Bank of America branch, just ask for the "Medical Fund for Mark Bryant."