VALORFIT IN ACTION - ValorFit

Today we were able to say thank you to LOF-Xpress™ Oil Change – Ankeny for their monthly donation to ValorFit. Their monthly donation allows ValorFit to provide 5 veterans with gym memberships each month.
We are grateful for the opportunity to work with businesses who understand the importance of what we are doing in leading veterans to take an active role with their physical and mental health.
Thank you to Joslyn Kent and The Farmer's Daughter Studio for continuing to help us say thank you to those who support our mission in helping our veterans become better versions of themselves.
Stronger Together.

Meet Larry (red shirt). Yesterday we shared some laughs, some tears, and worked hard together. Larry is a kind man who took part in a lot of "Special" things while serving in the Army. Those things led to some unhealthy habits, so his friend and fellow veteran Jesse Sage recommended that Larry try something new. We worked with the North Ankeny CrossFit team and Larry was welcomed with open arms and love from day one, to which he said is something he has always been looking for. Thank you for your service Larry, welcome home brother. Our community wide Murph event is just over a month away. The link to registration is below.. There are over 220 currently signed up. As a community we can show this country what supporting our veterans looks like by coming together to honor the fallen, while raising money to get those who did come home better opportunities at a healthier lifestyle.
Stronger Together

Yesterday we had the opportunity to sit down with the Urbandale Police Department to partner them with our ValorFit Community Murph Fundraiser. We are truly grateful for the support of Chief Johansen, Sgt. Gary Lang and the entire department with their willingness to help us positively influence as many veterans and their families as possible. There isn't a disconnect between the police and the veteran community and we will show the truth behind that.
While there we also came upon the tribute to fallen Urbandale Officer Justin Martin who was a member of CrossFit Des Moines, it was truly humbling. We are truly grateful for all of the police and first responders and the continued support we receive from them.
Stronger Together.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to visit and hang out with CrossFit OC3 , CrossFit Kilo II, and our good friend WodThreads. We have tested the waters in eastern Iowa and are now opening the doors to veterans in those areas. Veterans will now be referred to ValorFit from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to these gyms and a few more. We are grateful for the continued effort of everyone in the state of Iowa. We will continue to connect veterans and their families with an opportunity at a healthier lifestyle, and we will continue to do it the right way.
Stronger Together.

Meet Andy Fox. We were introduced to Andy in November by our brother in arms Thomas Oertli. Thomas and Andy deployed to Afghanistan together and Thomas knew Andy could use a change. Andy has had a handful of brain surgeries and was finally given clearance to workout after the new year, and he hasn't looked back since. His genuine kindness and sense of humor make him a one of a kind, and his heart of gold makes people want to be near him. Thank you to the CrossFit Merle Hay family for welcoming Andy with open arms. We were told Andy wouldn't enjoy CrossFit, well how did that work out? Change is possible.
Stronger Together.

Today we got to welcome Ashley to the ValorFit family. Ashley is a former Marine and started fundamentals at CrossFit Fort Dodge last Monday. Her first workout ever was the CrossFit Open 19.5 workout at the Friday Night Lights event in front of complete strangers, and she crushed it. Her story gave us goosebumps, and her attitude is phenomenal.Rock bottom is a lonely place, but it only gets better from here. Today Ashley was shown she is not alone, and she now has three new brothers. Welcome home Ashley.
Stronger Together.

This past Saturday I met Derek. We shared things that not everyone understands, laughing about things that most people can't comprehend. It's an unbreakable bond. He said he wasn't ready for crossfit due to his prior injuries. After several combat deployments and jumping from planes his body has literally changed the way it moves and that isn't always easy to accept. I asked him to trust me, and Monday we started class. Yesterday Derrick brought in his Sapper buddy Alec to exercise with our amazing friends at @crossfit50211. Thank you @crossfit50211 for helping us show veterans that their service isn't going unnoticed. Sprinkle water on us and we multiply like gremlins. It's a family thing.
Stronger Together.

Meet Sarah. Sarah is a hard working single mom who doesn't like asking for help. Yesterday she joined CrossFit Waukee with the support and genuine friendship of our pal Annie Brees. Female veterans often times neglect themselves so that they can take care of everyone else around them, I think all mother's can relate to that. We will do our part to ensure she understands her self worth. Sarah doesn't want any pity. She doesn't want any special attention. She immediately asked how she can help other veterans, a true testament of her character. She wants to be a part of a family and yesterday she got just that. Welcome home Sarah, and thank you for your service!
Stronger Together

Meet our friend and former Marine, Travis. Travis has was wounded in combat. Then he was wounded again, and then he was wounded a third time. Travis' body doesn't move like it used to because of his injuries. Travis knew he needed some accountability in getting himself moving again, so we helped him to do just that. Travis is one of the most humble people I have ever met. Travis doesn't demand attention, he just wants to feel better. Travis hasn't complained once to us, and he actually went above and beyond all expectations by seeking out donations for his fellow veterans. Coach Phil Poell and the members of @dsmperformance (CrossFit Des Moines ) welcomed Travis in with open arms, and then they went to work. Tyler Lloyd has been in our corner from day one and we are truly grateful for him and his community. Stronger Together

Last weekend members of ValorFit were able to do things that at one point in time seemed unrealistic or impossible. Last weekend physical and mental barriers were broken to not only prove personal growth, but growth as a cohesive unit as well. The individual success stories behind the members of ValorFit are important, and soon they will be told. Hard work in and out of the gym is our reality, we're just getting started.A huge thank you to the dynamic duo of Luke and Abi Reiland, and the entire staff of CrossFit 8035 Events.

The obstacles that veterans and their families encounter after returning from war need consistent attention and effort. The price of freedom comes at a cost, so we will work with people who truly care about transforming someone's physical and mental health to create a path to a better life. We will partner our passion with the passion and knowledge of others to ensure that veterans have an opportunity that they have never had before, and we will do it with a smile.We are truly grateful for the willingness and effort that our community puts into ValorFit. The positive relationships that are being created are making a true impact in the lives of veterans and their families. Stronger Together.

Consistency is important. ValorFit works with veterans to create and achieve goals in and out of the gym through active recovery plans that focus attention on the struggles of the individual veteran, while integrating them into a real support system of genuine people. Physical injuries, PTSD, and addiction are things that as a group we work through together, because being alone doesn't work. The physical and mental wounds from war don't have to hold us back. No one gets left behind. Thank you to North Ankeny CrossFit for creating an environment where veterans feel welcome. Stronger Together. #valorfit

This is Bailey Schroeder. Bailey is on Active Duty with the Iowa National Guard. We are truly thankful for Bailey's service, she is a prime example of inspiration and motivation. Bailey and three other members of CrossFit Merle Hay asked if they could represent ValorFit at CrossFit Bettendorf for the CrossFit Bettendorf Invitational this weekend. Knowing all four of them personally, we were honored to be represented by them. CrossFit Merle Hay has been a driving force in the overall success that ValorFit is having with Veterans in Central Iowa, we are truly grateful for them. A special thank you to Derek and WodThreads for working with Kirsten and Craig to get the apparel going. Stronger Together.

This country's warfighters often times feel out of place when returning home and trying to transition back into the "real world", but as a combat veteran your "real world" will never be the same. Our mission is to bring these veterans together to show them their self worth and give them their confidence back, while providing an opportunity at a healthier lifestyle, and surrounding them with people who truly care about their well being. Being alone is a choice, we choose the alternative. Stronger Together.

Today barriers were broken down, and stigmas were destroyed. Today three Valorfit veterans took the floor for their first ever CrossFit competition with the Granite Games hosted by CrossFit Ankeny. Six months ago these three were nowhere near the physical or mental condition to be competing anywhere, but today they were. Today they came together to prove to everyone that change can happen. Recovery is possible, and having a badass support system in and out of the gym makes a difference. Veterans don't have to fight alone, and today that was proven. Take a bow gentlemen, today was a good day. Stronger Together.

Veterans leading veterans. Combat changes you. PTSD, Traumatic brain injury, and addiction are some of the side effects that present themselves after our servicemembers return home. Being open about those struggles is not easy, but we are out to show that it is being done and it is being done together. Holding it all in doesn't work and we are going to provide real solutions that make a real difference. In 2019 we will be sharing more and more success stories of these brave men and women. We're just getting started. Stronger Together.