The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Fitness community comes together
Money raised for Kirtland woman battling cancer
The workout itself was inspired by ones Savvy Stough enjoyed doing.
“One of them is burpees, I’m sorry,” Brian Bess of Trinity Fitness Mentor said.
But those in attendance at The Bar Athletics in Willoughby Aug. 26 didn’t seem to mind. Many were wearing #SavvyStrong Tshirts. Most others were wearing blue, Stough’s favorite color.
They were gathered to help raise the spirt — and funds for — Stough, 21, of Kirtland, who was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in March. After multiple rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, her doctors recently told her that they had no further treatment plans.
“Savvy is the most energetic, fun-loving, caring person I’ve ever met,” said Kim Gould, who was helping sell #SavvyStrong shirts at the workout at The Bar Athletics. Gould met Stough through Trinity Fitness, where they both go to work out.
Bess credits CJ Kostranchuk of The Bar Athletics for getting the ball rolling on organizing a workout to support Stough. Kostranchuk and Bess are good friends and began messaging back in forth, agreeing that they wanted to do anything to help Stough. Scott Panchik of Crossfit Mentality and Alex Wollschleger of Crossfit Tripoint also partnered in the fundraiser.
“A lot of people in the gym knew her,” Bess said. “She’s every energetic, we knew we had to do something for her.”
Despite being a regular at Trinity, Kostranchuk offered to host the event at The Bar Athletics, near downtown Willoughby where Stough likes to run and get coffee from Fiona’s. Fiona’s, for its part, made blue donuts, where participants met up following the workout.
“It shows we have a good community around us,” Kostranchuk said.
Fitness, he said is a gateway for the mind, body and spirit and offers a way for people to come together.
As her friends worked out, video messages were recorded for Stough.
“It’s really about taking her mind off stuff, letting her know that she’s loved by a lot of people,” Bess said.
Donations are being collected through the end of August to support Stough’s medical expenses. Donations can be made at Trinity Fitness Mentor, The Bar Athletics, Cross Mentality and Cross Tripoint. They can also be made online at https://www.gofundme. com/help-savvy-conquercancer.