The Barbell Academy will host a charity Saturday with hopes of raising money and awareness for the mental health of emergency first-responders.
Located at 580 Bayfield St., the Barbell Academy is a strength and conditioning centre that specializes in Olympic lifting, kettlebells, CrossFit, rowing, small group training and boot camps.
Owner Mike Stefanyk told BarrieToday that this Saturday, Feb. 9, the fitness centre is making room for a ton of people who want to give back to those who give so much.
“There was a post by Dave Castro who is the director of the CrossFit Games, saying he had lost a close friend to suicide last October,” said Stefanyk. “His friend was a gentleman named Chad Wilkinson and he was a former Navy SEAL who was training to climb Mt. Aconcagua. In doing so, he was attempting to do 1,000 box step-ups while weighted with backpack containing 45 pounds.
"This news made its way to the CrossFit community and many people are attempting to do the feat in Chad’s honour," he added.
The event starts at 8 a.m. at Barbell Academy and participants will be attempting 1,000 step ups for time on a 20-inch box wearing a 45-pound (male) or 35-pound (female) pack. The backpacks were donated by first-responders clothing company 5.11 Tactical, which is donating 20 packs to the challenge as well as other prizes.
While the event is near booked, there may be spots available for those who want to sign up and it is open for anyone who wants to come in and watch or lend support.
Stefanyk says the community strongly supports first-responders and the event also has a personal side to it for him as well.
“My spouse is a police officer and he lost one of his colleagues to suicide a couple of years ago,” Stefanyk said. “As soon as I heard about this, I talked to him and we remembered about the non-profit IveGotYourBack911, which is exactly what they do in making the connections between first-responders and those looking to donate.”
The cost to enter Saturday's event is $15, with all proceeds going to www.ivegotyourback911.com.
