Help Ricky LaRocca Compete Again
Donation protected
3/29/17:
We are asking for you support again for our dear friend, mentor and trainer, Ricky LaRocca.
As you all know Ricky has continued to train us and continues to expand in his new Train Tough facility. He has invested in new lifting equipment for us and has made time and effort for each one of his clients, moving them and challenging them in improved strength, competitions and professional sports.
Ricky is now challenged again as a result of a second surgery due to complications of his amputation.
Ricky needs time to heal and as you know there is no paid sick time for his profession. We ask that you give him as much support as you can, give weekly, monthly, every dollar helps. As you know Ricky is the toughest strongman and before you know he will he we will be back to share is gift with us.
Please give.
Supporting our Strongman through his Rehabilitation
Ricky LaRocca, a renowned trainer and strongman, was a competitor in the International Strongman competition in Gatineau Canada in September of 2011 representing Team USA. During the max wheel event, he attempted a lift of 1700lbs and tore both of his quad muscles and knee caps. It was one of the most serious injuries in the history of strongman competitions.
Although doctors predicted he might never walk again, within months of his first surgeries Ricky was standing on crutches and right back at his passion of training lifters. His commitment to hundreds of powerlifters and strongmen is renowned. Most recently he has coached Jerry Pritchett who is one of the top ten strongmen in the world.
Over the past four years, Ricky has endured over 40 surgeries and continued to train and support his family. He is one of the hardest working trainers in the country, frequently working 14-16 hours a day in spite of his surgeries and pain. In addition, he is also dealing with recovery complications of blood clotting and skin ulcers.
Due to complications from prior surgeries, in November 2015 Ricky had to have a partial amputation of his left leg. Although he’s continued his own training, deadlifting and pressing heavy from his wheelchair, he has had to reduce his training of others so that he can focus on his own rehabilitation.
Ricky is now in need of all of us to support him!!! He has always been there for others, and now it is time for us to be there for him. A group of his friends and clients have set a goal to raise $75,000 to support him and his need for future prosthetics, and we invite you to help us keep him strong.
From Those Who Know Ricky Best:
Aparna Kota, MD, MPH
Associate Clinical Professor, UCSF
Pediatrician, Kaiser SF
Ricky transformed my health and body and I will always be grateful to him for the rest of my life. He has helped through some of the hardest times of my life. He kept me focused, inspired, and strong no matter what was happening. He has impeccable integrity. I trained with him for over 8 years and suprised myself with what I could do. He always believes in me. He is one of the most generous, kind, strong, determined, skilled men I know.
I got off all medications, reversed the path to diabetes and dropped 4 dress sizes. Never got injured. Not once. There is no other trainer like him.
Timothy Plantikow
Ricky was in the hospital here in San Francisco the entire last month of my Mom’s life in Minnesota. Those final days of her battle with cancer coincided with several surgeries for Ricky and a four week stint as an inpatient. I was flying from San Francisco to Minnesota every Thursday that month to help Mom and my family during a very difficult time. Ricky had met my Mom at the gym two years previously when she came to visit. He had set a world record at a strongman competition in Minnesota that summer, and the two of them bonded as they talked about life in her home state. Mom never forgot Ricky, and she asked about him every time I saw her until the very end. And Ricky never forgot her, either. Every one of those last days with Mom I got a text message from him, seemingly out of nowhere. He would say that he loved me, and that he and his wife and their children were praying for my Mom. He sent all those messages from his hospital bed, as he was fighting for his own life. I could on and on with tales of superhuman strength and fortitude gleaned from years spent working and training with Ricky. But reaching out to my Mom and I the way he did meant the world to me. I will never be able to say enough about his huge heart and his special ability to connect with others.
Judith Fendel
Richard LaRocca's personal commitment and accomplishments in the strength training arena speak for themselves in the records he has broke and the amount of Strong Man Competitions has participated in. But what I can most passionately speak to is his commitment to his clients. I trained with Richard for 8 consecutive years. Within the first few years Richard helped me loose about 60 pounds, bringing my BMI down to a healthy number and helping me tone my body and become confident and happy with how I looked. While I only trained with him once a week in person, throughout all those years, he provided me with a personal routine I could do on my own for all other days of the week and would update that routine every few weeks to ensure I was continually changing it up so I didn't reach a plateau. He also provided nutrition guidance to support my dietary changes and help meet my weight loss goals. He helped me look incredible for my wedding day and that is obviously something I will never forget and admire every time I look at my photos from that special day in my life.
But beyond Richard's knowledge of strength training, he brings a level of passion and a heart felt commitment to all the clients I have seen him work with. He truly and sincerely cares about me, my health and my family. Since moving further away from SF I have not had as many opportunities to see Richard in person but we have maintained contact and it once again showed me how much he sincerely cares about my well being and future. Richard has the biggest heart of anyone I have ever met in my life. And everyone I have met that knows Richard says the same glowing things about him.
I respect Richard's ability to maintain his strength and optimism, drawing on some deep part within him to always see the bright side, no matter what obstacles or hardships come into his life. I know he has the drive the tenacity to push through and become a role model with his ability to fight the unusual blood disease he has, to get back out to there to be a strong man competitor once more given the right prosthetic and medical support and to give him a chance to continue personal training and touching more lives.
I wish all the best for Richard since that is what he has given to me for as long as I have known him.
Abel Fuaau
About 10 years ago I started working with Ricky. It was a real dark time for me, and I credit Ricky for saving my life. After a couple months of training with him I ran out of money, but Ricky continued to train me, because I think he knew I needed it. Moreover, he went out of his way to try and find me work, and other connections to help my family business. I've witness with my own eyes Ricky farmers walk 450# in each hand for 40 feet. I've seen Ricky Yoke walk 1100# for 100 feet. I've seen Ricky give water and food to homeless kids riding the train tracks. I seen Ricky flip a 1000s tire 6 times in 60 seconds. I've seen Ricky pick up a 800# frame at an expo, get the crowd watching fired up, and stop to walk up to a kid in a wheelchair with Cerebral Palsy and give him a fist bump like he was the only person at the show. I've seen Ricky log press out of a wheel chair. Followers are cool, elite totals are great, and records are awesome, but heart is better. I'll leave you with a story. Early into training for strongman, Ricky began showing me how to work atlas stones. Around this time I was deadlifting in the high 500s. Naturally I thought stones would be easy since they were lighter than my deadlift. I struggled with a 180ish# stone, and barely made a 260# stone. Tried about 6 times to get the 365# stone but just couldn't break the ground. I blamed it on my arm length, my leg length, my gut, my raw forearms, technique, pretty much everything under the sun. I looked over to Ricky and he said probably one of the most profound things I've ever heard in my life, "Strength don't move stones Uso, attitude does." I made the 365# stone on my next attempt. Now is the time to help Ricky and I hope you will contribute to his fund raiser.
Quensella Miller
I've had the pleasure of calling Richard LaRocca a dear friend, trainer and mentor for almost 15 years. Richard is easily the most compassionate, giving, understanding and loving person I know - without a doubt! Richard became my trainer way back in the days of Power House before he moved our workouts to Body Mechanix. We would train at 6am twice a week. The ONLY way I made these workouts and completed them was the constant support, gentle push and daily affirmations given. He not only transformed my body but my mind! When hard times and bad news came in my life, he also became the shoulder I leaned on and ear that listened to it all, always offering great wisdom. When I left my job to take time off and figure out my next step I told him our sessions was something I'd have to cut out off my budget. He simply smiled and said "If you can make your scheduled time and on your scheduled days, we train". And just like that, he kept my workouts on point - free of charge! I don't know anyone that does this - no one! His heart is the size of the world, moon and sun combined. I'm so blessed to call him friend! And now I have a way to extend myself for him the way he always has for me. I can't think of a better cause than to see my friend walk freely again!
Earl Hathaway
Ricky doesn't really talk about himself, but I'm happy to do so for him. He's a strongman, powerlifter, and elite strength coach who was badly injured in a competition in 2011. Unfortunately, the injury triggered a cascade of problems, from a previously dormant blood clotting disorder to antibiotic resistant infections most likely caught during his twenty-odd surgeries. After five years of struggle and doing everything possible, his leg had to be amputated.
Even while struggling with his injuries, he's continued to help others: training kids who haven't had the best upbringing in life to help give them focus in their lives, making meals for the needy, helping raise a daughter's friend when she had nowhere else to go, and remaining a caring husband and father involved in his daughters' and son's educations. What goes around hopefully comes around, and now Ricky could use some of our help. I hope you will also donate to help fund
his recovery.
We are asking for you support again for our dear friend, mentor and trainer, Ricky LaRocca.
As you all know Ricky has continued to train us and continues to expand in his new Train Tough facility. He has invested in new lifting equipment for us and has made time and effort for each one of his clients, moving them and challenging them in improved strength, competitions and professional sports.
Ricky is now challenged again as a result of a second surgery due to complications of his amputation.
Ricky needs time to heal and as you know there is no paid sick time for his profession. We ask that you give him as much support as you can, give weekly, monthly, every dollar helps. As you know Ricky is the toughest strongman and before you know he will he we will be back to share is gift with us.
Please give.
Supporting our Strongman through his Rehabilitation
Ricky LaRocca, a renowned trainer and strongman, was a competitor in the International Strongman competition in Gatineau Canada in September of 2011 representing Team USA. During the max wheel event, he attempted a lift of 1700lbs and tore both of his quad muscles and knee caps. It was one of the most serious injuries in the history of strongman competitions.
Although doctors predicted he might never walk again, within months of his first surgeries Ricky was standing on crutches and right back at his passion of training lifters. His commitment to hundreds of powerlifters and strongmen is renowned. Most recently he has coached Jerry Pritchett who is one of the top ten strongmen in the world.
Over the past four years, Ricky has endured over 40 surgeries and continued to train and support his family. He is one of the hardest working trainers in the country, frequently working 14-16 hours a day in spite of his surgeries and pain. In addition, he is also dealing with recovery complications of blood clotting and skin ulcers.
Due to complications from prior surgeries, in November 2015 Ricky had to have a partial amputation of his left leg. Although he’s continued his own training, deadlifting and pressing heavy from his wheelchair, he has had to reduce his training of others so that he can focus on his own rehabilitation.
Ricky is now in need of all of us to support him!!! He has always been there for others, and now it is time for us to be there for him. A group of his friends and clients have set a goal to raise $75,000 to support him and his need for future prosthetics, and we invite you to help us keep him strong.
From Those Who Know Ricky Best:
Aparna Kota, MD, MPH
Associate Clinical Professor, UCSF
Pediatrician, Kaiser SF
Ricky transformed my health and body and I will always be grateful to him for the rest of my life. He has helped through some of the hardest times of my life. He kept me focused, inspired, and strong no matter what was happening. He has impeccable integrity. I trained with him for over 8 years and suprised myself with what I could do. He always believes in me. He is one of the most generous, kind, strong, determined, skilled men I know.
I got off all medications, reversed the path to diabetes and dropped 4 dress sizes. Never got injured. Not once. There is no other trainer like him.
Timothy Plantikow
Ricky was in the hospital here in San Francisco the entire last month of my Mom’s life in Minnesota. Those final days of her battle with cancer coincided with several surgeries for Ricky and a four week stint as an inpatient. I was flying from San Francisco to Minnesota every Thursday that month to help Mom and my family during a very difficult time. Ricky had met my Mom at the gym two years previously when she came to visit. He had set a world record at a strongman competition in Minnesota that summer, and the two of them bonded as they talked about life in her home state. Mom never forgot Ricky, and she asked about him every time I saw her until the very end. And Ricky never forgot her, either. Every one of those last days with Mom I got a text message from him, seemingly out of nowhere. He would say that he loved me, and that he and his wife and their children were praying for my Mom. He sent all those messages from his hospital bed, as he was fighting for his own life. I could on and on with tales of superhuman strength and fortitude gleaned from years spent working and training with Ricky. But reaching out to my Mom and I the way he did meant the world to me. I will never be able to say enough about his huge heart and his special ability to connect with others.
Judith Fendel
Richard LaRocca's personal commitment and accomplishments in the strength training arena speak for themselves in the records he has broke and the amount of Strong Man Competitions has participated in. But what I can most passionately speak to is his commitment to his clients. I trained with Richard for 8 consecutive years. Within the first few years Richard helped me loose about 60 pounds, bringing my BMI down to a healthy number and helping me tone my body and become confident and happy with how I looked. While I only trained with him once a week in person, throughout all those years, he provided me with a personal routine I could do on my own for all other days of the week and would update that routine every few weeks to ensure I was continually changing it up so I didn't reach a plateau. He also provided nutrition guidance to support my dietary changes and help meet my weight loss goals. He helped me look incredible for my wedding day and that is obviously something I will never forget and admire every time I look at my photos from that special day in my life.
But beyond Richard's knowledge of strength training, he brings a level of passion and a heart felt commitment to all the clients I have seen him work with. He truly and sincerely cares about me, my health and my family. Since moving further away from SF I have not had as many opportunities to see Richard in person but we have maintained contact and it once again showed me how much he sincerely cares about my well being and future. Richard has the biggest heart of anyone I have ever met in my life. And everyone I have met that knows Richard says the same glowing things about him.
I respect Richard's ability to maintain his strength and optimism, drawing on some deep part within him to always see the bright side, no matter what obstacles or hardships come into his life. I know he has the drive the tenacity to push through and become a role model with his ability to fight the unusual blood disease he has, to get back out to there to be a strong man competitor once more given the right prosthetic and medical support and to give him a chance to continue personal training and touching more lives.
I wish all the best for Richard since that is what he has given to me for as long as I have known him.
Abel Fuaau
About 10 years ago I started working with Ricky. It was a real dark time for me, and I credit Ricky for saving my life. After a couple months of training with him I ran out of money, but Ricky continued to train me, because I think he knew I needed it. Moreover, he went out of his way to try and find me work, and other connections to help my family business. I've witness with my own eyes Ricky farmers walk 450# in each hand for 40 feet. I've seen Ricky Yoke walk 1100# for 100 feet. I've seen Ricky give water and food to homeless kids riding the train tracks. I seen Ricky flip a 1000s tire 6 times in 60 seconds. I've seen Ricky pick up a 800# frame at an expo, get the crowd watching fired up, and stop to walk up to a kid in a wheelchair with Cerebral Palsy and give him a fist bump like he was the only person at the show. I've seen Ricky log press out of a wheel chair. Followers are cool, elite totals are great, and records are awesome, but heart is better. I'll leave you with a story. Early into training for strongman, Ricky began showing me how to work atlas stones. Around this time I was deadlifting in the high 500s. Naturally I thought stones would be easy since they were lighter than my deadlift. I struggled with a 180ish# stone, and barely made a 260# stone. Tried about 6 times to get the 365# stone but just couldn't break the ground. I blamed it on my arm length, my leg length, my gut, my raw forearms, technique, pretty much everything under the sun. I looked over to Ricky and he said probably one of the most profound things I've ever heard in my life, "Strength don't move stones Uso, attitude does." I made the 365# stone on my next attempt. Now is the time to help Ricky and I hope you will contribute to his fund raiser.
Quensella Miller
I've had the pleasure of calling Richard LaRocca a dear friend, trainer and mentor for almost 15 years. Richard is easily the most compassionate, giving, understanding and loving person I know - without a doubt! Richard became my trainer way back in the days of Power House before he moved our workouts to Body Mechanix. We would train at 6am twice a week. The ONLY way I made these workouts and completed them was the constant support, gentle push and daily affirmations given. He not only transformed my body but my mind! When hard times and bad news came in my life, he also became the shoulder I leaned on and ear that listened to it all, always offering great wisdom. When I left my job to take time off and figure out my next step I told him our sessions was something I'd have to cut out off my budget. He simply smiled and said "If you can make your scheduled time and on your scheduled days, we train". And just like that, he kept my workouts on point - free of charge! I don't know anyone that does this - no one! His heart is the size of the world, moon and sun combined. I'm so blessed to call him friend! And now I have a way to extend myself for him the way he always has for me. I can't think of a better cause than to see my friend walk freely again!
Earl Hathaway
Ricky doesn't really talk about himself, but I'm happy to do so for him. He's a strongman, powerlifter, and elite strength coach who was badly injured in a competition in 2011. Unfortunately, the injury triggered a cascade of problems, from a previously dormant blood clotting disorder to antibiotic resistant infections most likely caught during his twenty-odd surgeries. After five years of struggle and doing everything possible, his leg had to be amputated.
Even while struggling with his injuries, he's continued to help others: training kids who haven't had the best upbringing in life to help give them focus in their lives, making meals for the needy, helping raise a daughter's friend when she had nowhere else to go, and remaining a caring husband and father involved in his daughters' and son's educations. What goes around hopefully comes around, and now Ricky could use some of our help. I hope you will also donate to help fund
his recovery.
Organizer and beneficiary
Andy Gerlt
Organizer
San Francisco, CA
Richard LaRocca
Beneficiary