On Saturday, Oct. 26, CrossFit Wilmette hosted its third annual Barbells for Boobs fundraising event, benefitting the Mammograms in Action Grant Program.
Barbells for Boobs is a nonprofit organization that provides funding to pay for breast cancer detection services for thousands of men and women who do not qualify for assistance elsewhere. Their mission is to save lives through the early detection of breast cancer, regardless of one’s age, gender or ability to pay.
Pink was the color of the day, livening up the otherwise intimidating space. Light pink balloons were tied to pull-up bars, while bright pink duct tape added flair to the weights.
“The day went great,” says CrossFit trainer, Stephen Krofl. “We had the best turnout that we’ve ever had. We had close to 90 people in and out throughout the day, and 35 to 40 of those people participated in the workout.”
The official “WOD” (workout of the day) for Barbells for Boobs is known as “Grace” and consists of 30 clean and jerks for time. The clean and jerk, an Olympic lift, is performed in two movements: Competitors first “clean” the barbell from the floor to an intermediate position, rack the bar on the front of the shoulders, then “jerk” the barbell to a position above the head. According to Krofl, participants used anywhere from 25 to 135 pounds, and times ranged from 2:16 to 6 minutes. Every 15 minutes, a new group of participants completed the workout while family, friends and fellow participants enthusiastically kept count of reps.
Just as CrossFit is focused on meeting personal goals and striving for improvement, its fundraising efforts take the same approach. On the day of the event, the team had raised $32,620, more than double their initial goal of $15,000 and the most of any CrossFit gym of the 850 participating gyms in the nation. The Wilmette gym is also home to the number one individual fundraiser, Paul Tyska, who has personally fundraised more than $22,000 to date.
Tyska, a Wilmette resident of 28 years and an avid CrossFitter, was overwhelmed and humbled by the influx of support he received, and he credits his fundraising success to his wife, Patti, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. “I really didn’t do much, just sent emails to my friends, family and coworkers,” Paul says. “Patti has touched so many people’s lives. The money raised is a direct reflection of this.”
Patti and the rest of Paul’s family were all there to cheer him on. When asked what was running through his head during the workout, Paul says, “My mind was on Patti the whole time.”
Tyska also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the CrossFit team for organizing the event and bringing the community together to raise money for a cause that has personally affected him.
Donations are being accepted through the end of the year and can be made through the team fundraising page. Every $80 provides one mammogram to someone in need. Click here to make a donation.
For more information on CrossFit, contact Dr. John Poulos ( drjdpoulos@yahoo.com) or Steve Woodall ( woodall.cf@gmail.com).
