Participants in Lander University's CrossFit and Campus Recreation programs raised money as part of their observance of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Saturday, Oct. 17, they hosted an event called "Barbells for Boobs," and raised over $1,600.
Matthew Gilstrap, Lander's director of Campus Recreation and Intramurals, said the money will go to the national B4B, an organization supported by athletes, whose goal is providing funds for early detection of breast cancer, with an emphasis on women younger than 40 and men.
The event drew 20 participants, who competed in teams of two, performing a combination of two CrossFit workouts. It featured male and female competitors in strenuous exercises that included 1,000-meter rowing, thrusters, pull-ups, and clean and jerk weightlifting.
Gilstrap said Sue Nodine, mother of Lander student Sonny Nodine and a recent breast cancer survivor, spoke to the participants and spectators. He said it was very impactful and made the event more meaningful to listen as she described her experiences in battling the disease.
Campus Recreation has now turned its attention to men's health and is raising money for the Movember Foundation, an organization that funds over a thousand programs for men, including prevention and treatment of prostate and testicular cancer. It's a nationwide campaign in which each participant commits to growing what Gilstrap described as an "epic moustache" during all of November, while collecting donations from family, friends and associates.