FEATURES

Minnesota Triathlete Needs Your Help!

Thursday, 16 April 2026 00:10

By Brianna Kelly (bringmethenews.com)

A triathlete from Minnesota was critically injured when a driver mistakenly pulled onto a race course in Florida over the weekend.

Ashleigh Whitton, 45, of Eden Prairie, was competing Sunday morning in the 40-kilometer bike ride portion of the BillBone Olympic Triathlon in West Palm Beach, Fla., when she collided with the passenger side of a vehicle that drove onto a partially closed street, the local ABC affiliate reported....

Whitton was airlifted with life-threatening injuries to a nearby hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery to stabilize her spinal cord and was placed in a medically induced coma to reduce brain swelling and bleeding, according to an online fundraiser.

“Doctors have described her injury as one of the most severe spinal cord injuries possible,” the GoFundMe reads. “At this time, she is paralyzed from the neck down.”

More than $69,000 has been raised to help cover medical bills, long-term care and other unexpected expenses, as Whitton will likely remain in the hospital for weeks, followed by extensive rehabilitation.

“Ashleigh is not just a patient—she is an extraordinary woman who has impacted so many lives,” the GoFundMe reads. “She is one of the strongest, most vibrant, and selfless people you will ever meet.

“If you know Ashleigh, you know she’s a beast. Stronger than most, tougher than anyone I know, and not someone who backs down from a fight.”