John F. Nichols – From Quadriplegic to Marathoner

IMAGINE YOU’RE WATER SKIING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU SUFFER A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT AND ARE TOLD YOU MAY NEVER WALK AGAIN.

THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED TO JOHN NICHOLS, WHO BECAME A QUADRIPLEGIC AT THE AGE OF 32. DESPITE THE ODDS, JOHN OVERCAME HIS INJURY AND IS NOW ACTUALLY RUNNING MARATHONS.

JOHN, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE NON-PROFIT LIFE FOUNDATION’S DISABILITY INSURANCE AWARENESS MONTH, IS HERE TO SHARE HIS AMAZING STORY, AND WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR HIM DURING HIS RECOVERY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: lifehappens.org

John F. Nichols, MSM, CLU- BIO

In 1993, John Nichols had a near-death experience from a water skiing accident that left him paralyzed from his neck to his toes. Doctors weren’t sure he would ever walk again. Through six years of rehabilitation, he reached a level of recovery that less than 1 percent of all spinal cord injury patients attain. Today, John does more than just walk: He runs marathons. In fact, he’s completed a marathon a year for four straight years.

John experienced first-hand what he has been cautioning his clients about for years. John is a nationally recognized disability insurance benefits consultant and serves as president of Chicago-based Disability Resource Group Inc., a national insurance agency that he founded in 1999.

John also serves as the president-elect of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and previously as a national board trustee since 2007. In that same year, NAIFA-Chicago Region recognized John with their Leadership in Life Award.

He obtained his CLU designation in 2003 and graduated with his Masters in Science Management with an emphasis in Leadership in 2011 from The American College.

John spends time in Chicago and Lyons, Colo. and loves to travel, hike and train for marathons.