Help Lori Raise the Bar in Japan
Donation protected
USA Powerlifting National Team Member going to Tokyo, Japan to compete at Bench Press Worlds.
What? How did that happen?
I grew up in an abusive home where I was taught to be ashamed of my natural strength. It was disgusting, wrong, embarrassing…the list goes on and on. But my strength gave me a wonderful gift. It helped me survive physical abuse. I could hold someone off of me. Swing and connect and even absorb a hit. You could not pin me. You could not keep me down. I was not proud of my strength, but secretly, I knew its value.
Leaving that abuse, believing I had little worth, set me up to marry an abusive alcoholic. He to reinforced the messages of my childhood. I was dumb, fat, ugly, worthless, a mistake and many more I will not type for decencies’ sake. These things and more would be screamed at me for so long and with such vigor that my ex-husband would spit up blood from breaking blood vessels in his throat.
In the midst of that last, difficult sentence, did you notice the most important part? I said my ex-husband. I spent two excruciatingly long decades trapped, hidden away and hopeless. I gained a massive amount of weight and between the daily stress and deep depression, my body began giving out.
I saw every specialist you can name, with doctors appointments almost every week. I was told I had Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, nerve damage and more. Nothing helped the constant pain. I could hardly walk and would crawl on my hands and knees up the stairs each night to bed, needing to stop to rest at least once.
I was going to die if I didn’t fight back. I began to make a plan. I worked hard and completed my psychology degree. I started walking each day. I took out the small, light dumbbells I had hidden away and lifted them with weak arms. Over time, my mental and physical strength grew.
One evening, I was pinned with my back to the front door as he raised his fist. From deep within, a voice surfaced. Looking at him dead in the eyes, I said, “Before you hit me with that fist, know this: You better knock me out cold, because I will hit back and I will not stop until one of us is dead.” He put his hand down and walked away. I knew in that moment that I was different and I would make a new life.
Part of my new life was hiring a trainer and for the first time, in 2010, I was told strength was beautiful. My trainer put a bar in my hand and I benched the bar (45 lbs.). Those sessions were my therapy. I confronted so many demons in that little gym. I also fell in love with that trainer and he with me.

Life changed quickly. I focused on healing from Complex PTSD and didn’t bench again until 2015. I challenged myself to 5k’s, Mud Runs and then my first bench competition in April of 2017. I was scared to death, but went in and set two NC State Records.

My second meet was in 2018 at Bench Press Nationals. That’s right…my SECOND meet. I wasn’t sure I even belonged. In spite of the fear, I went and finished 4th in the Masters and 5th in the Open. I loved every minute of it.

Fast forward to a few months ago when I was informed that I was the first alternate for the USA Powerlifting team going to Bench Worlds. I was happy just to have that honor. I NEVER, EVER expected to go. Then, just before bed on a Friday night, I opened an email. A spot had opened up and I had to decide, yes or no.
My mind was flooded. I don’t have a passport. Heck, I haven’t left the country in 30 years! I was nervous about the LONG flight. To be honest, I was flat out overwhelmed. We didn’t expect this.
This is why you are so important. We invest and plan to cover the cost of certain competition fees, travel expenses and gear for each year. It’s not cheap, but we give and take to make it happen. We did not see this opportunity coming.
We are prepared to cover the expenses associated with my husband coming with me, but we need some help getting my costs covered.
My flight costs, uniform costs, entry fees, drug testing fees, food, lodging and more. It’s a lot and any contribution is deeply appreciated. These expenses are not covered by the USA Powerlifting Association. This may surprise you, but even Olympic athletes must raise funds to cover many of the costs of participating in their sport.
Why bother helping me? Because I love sharing my story with people. I love encouraging them and giving them hope when all seems hopeless. Each part of my life contains a lesson that always touches someone and I believe this journey to Tokyo will be another part that God will use to enrich my story so that I can share it with others.

By supporting me, you become a part of every conversation I have with a women who wants to lift weights, but is scared. You become a part of every public speaking opportunity I have to share my story. You become a part of encouraging a broken soul who needs hope.
I will take you with me on this journey. You can follow each step at Journey to Japan
Hoping to have funds raised by May 1, 2019.
What? How did that happen?
I grew up in an abusive home where I was taught to be ashamed of my natural strength. It was disgusting, wrong, embarrassing…the list goes on and on. But my strength gave me a wonderful gift. It helped me survive physical abuse. I could hold someone off of me. Swing and connect and even absorb a hit. You could not pin me. You could not keep me down. I was not proud of my strength, but secretly, I knew its value.
Leaving that abuse, believing I had little worth, set me up to marry an abusive alcoholic. He to reinforced the messages of my childhood. I was dumb, fat, ugly, worthless, a mistake and many more I will not type for decencies’ sake. These things and more would be screamed at me for so long and with such vigor that my ex-husband would spit up blood from breaking blood vessels in his throat.
In the midst of that last, difficult sentence, did you notice the most important part? I said my ex-husband. I spent two excruciatingly long decades trapped, hidden away and hopeless. I gained a massive amount of weight and between the daily stress and deep depression, my body began giving out.
I saw every specialist you can name, with doctors appointments almost every week. I was told I had Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, nerve damage and more. Nothing helped the constant pain. I could hardly walk and would crawl on my hands and knees up the stairs each night to bed, needing to stop to rest at least once.
I was going to die if I didn’t fight back. I began to make a plan. I worked hard and completed my psychology degree. I started walking each day. I took out the small, light dumbbells I had hidden away and lifted them with weak arms. Over time, my mental and physical strength grew.
One evening, I was pinned with my back to the front door as he raised his fist. From deep within, a voice surfaced. Looking at him dead in the eyes, I said, “Before you hit me with that fist, know this: You better knock me out cold, because I will hit back and I will not stop until one of us is dead.” He put his hand down and walked away. I knew in that moment that I was different and I would make a new life.
Part of my new life was hiring a trainer and for the first time, in 2010, I was told strength was beautiful. My trainer put a bar in my hand and I benched the bar (45 lbs.). Those sessions were my therapy. I confronted so many demons in that little gym. I also fell in love with that trainer and he with me.
Life changed quickly. I focused on healing from Complex PTSD and didn’t bench again until 2015. I challenged myself to 5k’s, Mud Runs and then my first bench competition in April of 2017. I was scared to death, but went in and set two NC State Records.
My second meet was in 2018 at Bench Press Nationals. That’s right…my SECOND meet. I wasn’t sure I even belonged. In spite of the fear, I went and finished 4th in the Masters and 5th in the Open. I loved every minute of it.
Fast forward to a few months ago when I was informed that I was the first alternate for the USA Powerlifting team going to Bench Worlds. I was happy just to have that honor. I NEVER, EVER expected to go. Then, just before bed on a Friday night, I opened an email. A spot had opened up and I had to decide, yes or no.
My mind was flooded. I don’t have a passport. Heck, I haven’t left the country in 30 years! I was nervous about the LONG flight. To be honest, I was flat out overwhelmed. We didn’t expect this.
This is why you are so important. We invest and plan to cover the cost of certain competition fees, travel expenses and gear for each year. It’s not cheap, but we give and take to make it happen. We did not see this opportunity coming.
We are prepared to cover the expenses associated with my husband coming with me, but we need some help getting my costs covered.
My flight costs, uniform costs, entry fees, drug testing fees, food, lodging and more. It’s a lot and any contribution is deeply appreciated. These expenses are not covered by the USA Powerlifting Association. This may surprise you, but even Olympic athletes must raise funds to cover many of the costs of participating in their sport.
Why bother helping me? Because I love sharing my story with people. I love encouraging them and giving them hope when all seems hopeless. Each part of my life contains a lesson that always touches someone and I believe this journey to Tokyo will be another part that God will use to enrich my story so that I can share it with others.
By supporting me, you become a part of every conversation I have with a women who wants to lift weights, but is scared. You become a part of every public speaking opportunity I have to share my story. You become a part of encouraging a broken soul who needs hope.
I will take you with me on this journey. You can follow each step at Journey to Japan
Hoping to have funds raised by May 1, 2019.
Organizer
Lori Wilson
Organizer
Apex, NC