Promotes exercise and connecting with others
By Lauren Parker- Gill, News Editor, The Times
Veterans and their families meet for The Weekly Fight every Sunday at Cross Fit Inspire in Frazer to work out and support each other.
EAST WHITELAND – Cross Fit Inspire in Frazer has been doing great things for first responders and The Weekly Fight, a nonprofit organization for veterans and their families, by offering the use of their facility for weekly work outs and camaraderie.
The Department of Veterans Affairs recently released the results of a study that examined over 55 million records from 1979 – 2014. In 2014, 7,403 American Veterans committed suicide, which is an average of 20 per day.
The Weekly Fight was founded by Sergeant Major Martin Kenny (Retired) to provide support for Veterans and their loved ones struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), through work outs that are held at Cross Fit Inspire every Sunday at 9 a.m.
Each week 10 – 20 veterans and their spouses or family members who have also been affected by PTSD attend. Before beginning the workout, Kenny speaks about a veteran who lost his or her battle with PTSD and together, they dedicate the workout to that person.
“There are a lot of veterans here in Chester County who probably need to be here each week,” said Kenny at the beginning of one workout. “We need to reach out to them and tell them to get here.”
Mark Abbott, who attends The Weekly Fight with his wife Haleigh, served in the Marine Corps for four years and said he struggled with finding something as meaningful to him in everyday life, as his service had been.
“The Weekly Fight has given us both an outlet and network of health conscious friends who understand what it means to seek self improvement, said Abbott. “ It has also given us something to do together, which has been fun.”
Chester County first responders have been attending classes Thursday nights
When Lieutenant Taro Landis of the Tredyffrin Township Police Department learned about The Weekly Fight, he reached out to the owners of Cross Fit Inspire, Darin Barker and David Heston and asked if something similar could be done with first responders in Chester County.
Barker and Heston readily agreed and opened a class Thursdays at 7:15 p.m. to all first responders in Chester County. Since its inception over the summer, the group includes several police officers from police departments in the area, as well as staff members from the district attorney’s office.
Barker said the work outs are designed to help all first responders deal with stress, get them in shape and perform better while spending time on themselves.
“The cross fit work out is similar to our jobs – it changes every week and we never know what we’re doing so it gets the adrenaline running, just like when we get a call.” Landis said.
The class for first responders is open to all first responders in Chester County Thursdays at 7:15 p.m.
The Weekly Fight class is open to veterans and their loved ones Sundays at 9 a.m., with a six mile team hike that is held the third Sunday of each month. Civilians are also invited to attend, with a $10 donation. http://theweeklyfight.org
For more information on Cross Fit Inspire, please go to: http://crossfitinspire.com
