Good

Affiliate Owner Lindsey Grasis Launches Fundraiser for Sexual Assault Awareness and Shares Her Story to Help Others

April 19, 2021 by
Credit: Lindsey Grasis (Instagram.com/lgrasis)
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Lindsey Grasis, affiliate owner of CrossFit 1977, opened up on Instagram last week about her sexual assault story and is looking to raise money to help support survivors and their families. 

Her story: Nine years ago, while studying abroad in Puerto Rico, her junior year of college, Grasis was sexually assaulted by a security guard who worked at the hotel where she was staying.

  • “I did press charges, and I did fight it in court,” she said in a video on Instagram. “It took nearly two years, flying back and forth to Puerto Rico, to get this man behind bars.”
  • Although Grasis ended up winning the case, she understands how difficult it is for survivors to speak up. 
  • “You’re treated like you are the criminal,” she said.

One big thing: Grasis began speaking about her sexual assault openly on social media one year later after her college asked her to speak at a sexual assault awareness event they were holding. 

  • When she finished speaking, five to seven other students walked up to the stage to share their stories too. That is when Grasis knew that she needed to share her story with more people. 
  • Every year since, on the anniversary of her assault, Grasis has been open about her story in hopes of helping others who are afraid to speak up and find support.
  • “I do find year after year that it does help other people,” she said. “If I need to be that voice, I will be that voice.”
  • Although it’s important to find a support system, Grassi also stressed the importance of finding a healthy outlet. She turned to alcohol and an eating disorder at first, but she eventually found CrossFit as a healthy outlet in 2013. She uses her social media accounts to share her fitness journey as an affiliate owner, CrossFit coach, and athlete. 

What’s different this year: Grassis is raising money to donate to nonprofits that help support survivors and their families. 

  • She made T-shirts, sweatshirts, and tank tops to sell, and all proceeds will be donated to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. She also plans to send donations to a local sexual assault non-profit organization, the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. Her goal is to sell 500 items, or $10,000. 
  • “I like to use my platform for good as well, not just for CrossFit-related stuff,” she said. 

How you can help: Although the shirts are no longer available, donations can be sent directly through Venmo (@lgrasis) using the title “sexual assault awareness.”

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