Help Fund a True Survivor

Hi, my name is Chris and I started crossfit in January 2013. At the urging of a great friend who loved it, actually the ongoing pestering of my friend, I tried it. I went in for the baseline for the newbies class. Run a 400, 10 burpees, 20 pushups, 30 situps, 40 kb swings and 50 air squats…it nearly killed me. I thought I was going to hurl and spent the next hour lying in bed recovering…but, I went back. I spent the next month pushing myself into this new crazy physical endeavor and I loved it. I loved the work outs but it was the great coaches, the team environment and the community that brought me back every night even when my legs were so sore I couldn’t sit on the toilet.
I was 47 years old, not in the greatest shape, widowed about 8 years, teaching full time, and raising my two boys. It was the hardest thing I had done physically in my life. I made it through the newbies class and (thank God) passed into the regular program. I really didn’t think I’d make it…I’m thinking the coaches might have thought that too!
I truly believe that I belong to the best box ever! Crossfit Haboob is my home and my coaches, Sean and Ben (and all the coaches they have nurtured), have pushed me, helped me, encouraged me and embraced my two boys as well. We are a family at Haboob. We welcome new family, we love old family and we tease the shit out of each other like brothers and sisters!
In the last few weeks, I have found out in great depth how wonderful this community is. I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It is one of the scariest things I have ever faced. I had to tell my two beautiful boys, Sam (16) and Ben (9), that I have cancer…after their dad died of pancreas cancer in 2005. I have triple negative breast cancer which is very survivable, but it’s going to be a tough road. My family at Crossfit Haboob lauched into action! They were with me daily as I went for tests and found out results. They offer me the biggest, sweatiest hugs ever! They love me. They love my boys.
Ben Evans and Sean Bondy and all the coaches asked me if they could focus their Barbells for Boobs fundraiser on my family. I was humbled, but not surprised because they are so wonderful and have built a great community. It is an amazing thing to have the strength of the strongest people I know holding me up. I am so glad I found crossfit, but I am enormously grateful that I found a new family at Crossfit Haboob.
Thank you so much for your support, love, strength, laughs and encouragement! I couldn’t do it with out you!