Rise Up! Sober Fitness and Recovery Project
Donation protected
Why are we raising money?
The epidemic of opiate addiction was already raging in our small city of Rutland, Vermont. The Covid-19 pandemic has only made things worse. Our gym, CrossFit RisingStar, is a neighbor of a local addiction recovery clinic. Every day, over 500 people from all walks of life are treated there for addiction.
For those in recovery from substance use disorder who have the desire to live sober, we can help them find strength and a new community of friends to support their journey.
We will create a safe place to go for those in recovery, free of judgement. A place to connect with other like-minded people and practice fitness, health, and recovery.
How will we do that?
Research clearly shows that exercise helps your body, whether you’re in recovery or not. Improved long term fitness helps with cardio-vascular health and diabetes, lowers the risk of some types of cancers, stimulates the immune system, and can even help alleviate depression symptoms.
Further research shows that exercise can increase the amount of new nerve connections in the brain, which helps our brains heal from the harm our drug of choice has been causing. As the body and mind continue to return to a more normal state many people in recovery find exercise also helps restore a normal sleep schedule.
When we reach our goal, we’ll be the newest chapter of The Phoenix, a national program where folks are given sober fitness as a tool for recovery from addiction.
The initial plan is to have these classes occur twice each week and be tailored specifically to the needs of people in recovery. To stay in the program, participants need to be sober for at least 48 hours.
We hope that our program will expand into more varied and greater offerings for the recovery community.
What will help people to know this?
We teamed up with local muralist Lopi LaRoe, to revive our surroundings and inspire change. Her new mural was completed this December (in the snow!) and we’re already feeling the positive effects.
Approximately half of the funds raised will go towards paying Lopi and additional local contractors for the time and materials they so kindly offered to us.
What do you want me to do?
Donate. The more money we raise, the more people in recovery we’ll be able to support.
To bring our full plan to life, we’re aiming to raise $20,000 by Memorial Day.
To thank you for your support, we have a few special incentives:
Local companies including Baird Farm, VT and Speakeasy Cafe will be gifting their products to a handful of lucky donors.
Anyone who donates over $250 will receive a free 1-on-1 Private Coaching Session at Crossfit Rising Star.
Addiction recovery is a fight like no other and those who get through it are tough as nails. Let’s help these fighters in their struggle so that they may do the great things they are meant to do!
The epidemic of opiate addiction was already raging in our small city of Rutland, Vermont. The Covid-19 pandemic has only made things worse. Our gym, CrossFit RisingStar, is a neighbor of a local addiction recovery clinic. Every day, over 500 people from all walks of life are treated there for addiction.
For those in recovery from substance use disorder who have the desire to live sober, we can help them find strength and a new community of friends to support their journey.
We will create a safe place to go for those in recovery, free of judgement. A place to connect with other like-minded people and practice fitness, health, and recovery.
How will we do that?
Research clearly shows that exercise helps your body, whether you’re in recovery or not. Improved long term fitness helps with cardio-vascular health and diabetes, lowers the risk of some types of cancers, stimulates the immune system, and can even help alleviate depression symptoms.
Further research shows that exercise can increase the amount of new nerve connections in the brain, which helps our brains heal from the harm our drug of choice has been causing. As the body and mind continue to return to a more normal state many people in recovery find exercise also helps restore a normal sleep schedule.
When we reach our goal, we’ll be the newest chapter of The Phoenix, a national program where folks are given sober fitness as a tool for recovery from addiction.
The initial plan is to have these classes occur twice each week and be tailored specifically to the needs of people in recovery. To stay in the program, participants need to be sober for at least 48 hours.
We hope that our program will expand into more varied and greater offerings for the recovery community.
What will help people to know this?
We teamed up with local muralist Lopi LaRoe, to revive our surroundings and inspire change. Her new mural was completed this December (in the snow!) and we’re already feeling the positive effects.
Approximately half of the funds raised will go towards paying Lopi and additional local contractors for the time and materials they so kindly offered to us.
What do you want me to do?
Donate. The more money we raise, the more people in recovery we’ll be able to support.
To bring our full plan to life, we’re aiming to raise $20,000 by Memorial Day.
To thank you for your support, we have a few special incentives:
Local companies including Baird Farm, VT and Speakeasy Cafe will be gifting their products to a handful of lucky donors.
Anyone who donates over $250 will receive a free 1-on-1 Private Coaching Session at Crossfit Rising Star.
Addiction recovery is a fight like no other and those who get through it are tough as nails. Let’s help these fighters in their struggle so that they may do the great things they are meant to do!
Fundraising team (7)
Rob DiTursi
Organizer
Raised $8,845 from 36 donations
Rutland, VT
Larry Thomas
Team member
Raised $345 from 7 donations
Lopi LaRoe
Team member
Raised $130 from 5 donations
Sarah Griffin
Team member
Raised $50 from 1 donation
Carolyn Berman
Team member
