CrossFit WOD Raising Money for Suicide Prevention and Dedicated to Late Veteran Grandfather
If there’s one thing the CrossFit community knows how to do well, it’s showing up for each other when it matters most. Time and time again we’ve seen examples of members, affiliate owners and gym families coming together in the spirit of something bigger than themselves, and Mark Moss’s story is no different, but special in its own right.
In April 2013, Moss’s retired veteran grandfather committed suicide. Every year since, his family has gotten together to do a walk in his honor. But this year, Moss was called to do something more substantial.
- “I have always felt like the walk we always go to is very emotional for my family. It’s close to the date my grandfather took his life, so I always walk away feeling heavy from it. I wanted to do something to bring forth my story and make my family’s negative a positive for someone else looking in,” he said.
- “The CrossFit community is truly special. I actually found CrossFit as a result of my Grandad’s passing. So having this event in the community has really been a way to share two of my main passions…helping others and fitness.”
This year, it started with an idea to do a workout with a few friends at his local box.
- “Once I began telling a few people what I was going to do, I quickly realized how many other people were eager to get behind the cause. Almost immediately messages started flooding in from people who had lost friends and family to suicide, from suicide survivors, and even messages from people telling us that they themselves had been thinking of taking their own life, and what a difference and reminder our message of hope meant to them,” Moss said.
The word spread quickly and other key partners got involved, setting this up to be the best tribute for Moss’ late grandfather yet.
- “That’s when I partnered with CrossFit Masters Athlete Justin King and The EMOM Company and ‘UPLIFT’ was born. Together, we came up with a CrossFit workout and shirt design. We set the workout for October 8th and decided to open shirt sales for everyone with 100% of the profits going to the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention,” Moss said.
- “Our hopes for this is not only to raise money for such a necessary cause, but to really raise up the CrossFit community so those who have lost, those who have survived, and those who want to support can have an outlet to come together.”
CrossFit Games athlete Brandon Luckett wrote the workout, before CrossFit Director of Competition, Adrian Bozman, then made modifications to it, resulting in the finished piece:
CrossFit Games athlete Scott Tetlow, confirmed to compete at the Rogue Invitational this month, plans to wear his UPLIFT shirt during at least one event during the 3-day competition in Austin, TX.
- “As active duty military I want to support all the veterans and assist anyway I can,” Tetlow said.
- “According to the military times the suicide rate amongst veterans and service members is higher than that of civilians. These are the men and women who have put others life’s in front of their own and giving them the support they are deserving is the least that could happen.”
Moss also discussed this fundraising effort on the Get with the Programming podcast with Chase Ingrham, and you can listen to that here. As for the shirts, they are not currently still available for order, but Moss says they plan to release the extras for purchase after the event. So far, shirt orders have raised approximately $15,000 for the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention.
Grab your gym pals and give the workout a go on Saturday, and don’t forget to tag Mark (Instagram: @moss_fit_) so he can see all of the support.
- “It truly means the world not only to me, but people who have lost someone to suicide, is a suicide survivor, or is thinking about taking their life. We have had so many messages and stories of people who have lost someone to suicide or thought about taking their own life recently and how glad they were we were doing this event,” Moss said.
- “You never know who this message will reach and what they are going through in their lives, so our hope is to reach people and let them know they are cared about and are loved.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
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