How do you train "the core" when there is no "core"?
Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 3:08PM I was visiting my friend Brendan during his stay at Spaulding Hospital . Wheelchairs are the common mode of transportation for residents, and Brendan is no exception. I was just in time for his rehab session. He fell from a porch last April when the railing gave way. An awkward landing left his spine fractured and his legs useless. Brendan is 22 years-old, mighty, and unstoppable.
His rehab session was full of struggle and fight. Lean an inch too far forward and he would topple without the core muscles to hold himself up. He would bend his head to one side in an attempt to fire trunk and hip muscles on that same side of his body. At times it seemed like Jedi training for Brendan to use muscles that stopped working months ago.
Brendan has a physical and mental toughness uncommon in someone with such a calm and quiet demeanor. This tragic fall showed me what a great man is made of. He has not only had to deal with this severe injury and change of lifestyle, he has had to deal with every complication, aggravation, and unforeseen bump in the road. That he has done it with such positive energy and grace seems impossible.
There have been many moments when friends and family have felt great sadness and loss over this injury. It never lasted long. It was Brendan that cheered us up. It was Brendan that inspired us all. The man is a Giant.
Now we are trying to do something nice for him. We are selling raffle tickets for a $10,000 prize. Tickets are $50 each. All donations are tax deductable. The drawing is on December 19th. We have already raised $80,000. We are $20,000 shy of our goal. All donations are accepted and encouraged. Every dollar that you donate will be matched dollar for dollar to help bring us closer to our goal!
There is a pledge that is centuries old. "The honor should not go alone to those who have fallen. Rather, all honor goes to those who fall and rise again."
(E-mail me at jzimmer@gentlegiant.com for more info. Huge thanks to those who have already donated.)
Reader Comments (4)
John,
Brendan is very inspiring. Thank you for sharing and my thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family this Holiday.
I encourage all members to see if they can contribute to help Brendan. Even if you and someone else can only give $25 each, pool it together for a great cause.
It's a week and a half away from Christmas. The cloud of a stumbling economy has not yet lifted (although it will). This gym just raised money for the families of Fort Hood a week and a half ago, and the Fight Gone Bad benefit was just over a month ago... and yet the members of Crossfit Boston have still found a way to give generously for Brendan. I can never say enough about the Crossfit community, especially the group that meets at CFB.
This might be the only blog on the internet where people are far more likely to donate money than to leave comments. I have been touched by the kind words, support, and generous donations. Thank you all.
The benefit will continue through the end of the week, and every dollar you donate will be matched to help us reach our goal! Donations can be left with Neal. There is also a website for those that wish to donate online.
Please visit http://www.firstgiving.com/GentleGiantRowing.
If you've got it, give it. If you don't, keep working out!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!.
I was impressed by the generosity of everyone here at CFB. In a short amount of time we sold 17 tickets through CFB. If you include the dollar for dollar match by a private donor we helped raise $1,700! This helped put us over the top for our goal of raising $100,000, and the drawing for the prize was last Friday. Congratulations to Jeff Hart of Framingham for winning the $10,000!
Thanks again for the donations, the kind words, and the good thoughts. I was really proud of CFB. And I was proud to do some good for Brendan Ward, someone who has my complete admiration and respect.
Just this morning Jeff Hart, the winner of the $10,000, announced that he would like to give all of the winnings to Brendan! At last count over $120,000 was raised for Brendan Ward! I am reminded of the final scene of "It's a Wonderful Life" where everyone kicks in to help George Bailey. Brendan has inspired that type of response. We all continue to cheer him on.