At 28 years old, Alex Tilmes is the picture of strength. As a dedicated CrossFit athlete, Alex has always been the one pushing others to hit their PRs and finish the workout strong. However, on January 21, during a CrossFit class, the unthinkable happened. Alex suffered a stroke.

He was rushed to the Medical Center of the Rockies for emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. While the surgery was successful, follow-up scans revealed a deeper, more complex battle: Alex was born with a hole in his heart.

The Road Ahead: Alex has spent the last several weeks fighting in the ICU and acute care. Now, he is preparing for the most important "workout" of his life. On February 9th, he was transferred to Craig Hospital, a world-renowned facility, to begin a grueling and intensive neurological rehabilitation program.

While Alex has the heart of a lion, the financial burden of what’s to come is immense. We are raising funds to help cover:

* Extensive medical bills from his initial brain surgery and ICU stay.

* Specialized rehabilitation costs at Craig Hospital.

* Future heart surgeries to repair the hole in his heart.

How You Can Help: Alex has spent years pouring energy into his community; now, it’s our turn to pour it back into him. Whether you know him from the gym, from a CrossFit competition, from work, or through friends, any contribution helps ease the stress on Alex and his family so he can focus entirely on healing.

1. Donate: No amount is too small.

2. Share: Post this link on your social media and in your gym’s community pages.

3. Pray/Send Strength: Keep Alex in your thoughts and prayers as he begins his work at Craig.

We will keep everyone updated on his progress. Thank you for being part of Alex’s support team.