Grand Rapids, Mich.- ‘Barbells for boobs,’ a crossfit event put on by CrossFit 616 helped raise money for those who can’t afford to get a mammogram. It was the second annual event where athletes both young and old were pumping iron.
One athlete stood out in particular, 63-year-old Pat Smith. She’s been doing cross fit for a little over a year now after getting some encouragement from her son.
“He said, ‘mom, I’ll buy you an I-phone and I’ll pay for cross fit,” said Smith
After taking the deal, Pat has become part of the cross fit family where team members hug and thank her for her inspiration. Pat power squatted her maximum weight of 52 pounds 30 times at ‘Barbells for Boobs,’ but the event means more to Pat than most days in the gym.
“I’m doing this workout for my mother; she died of breast cancer 40 years ago.”
Anyone was welcome to sign up, buy a shirt and hit the gym. A $20 donation from the athletes goes to an organization called ‘Mammograms in Action,’ to help women get a mammogram who can’t afford one. It’s a cause that head trainer, Brian Orpallo, believes the athletes are inspired by.
They’re going to push a little bit harder,” said Orpallo. “Maybe suffer a little bit more just to remind them that there’s a lot more people out there that suffer a lot more than anyone else.”
