The 3rd annual LIFT STRONG fundraiser was held at The Underground Strength Gym in Edison, NJ on June 18th.
Total funds raised between competitors and visitors showing their support: $ 1,220
Our first year we raised slightly more than $ 1,220 and our 2nd year we raised near $ 2,000. I will be doubling the biggest donation which was $ 250 and donating $ 500.
A Few “First Time” things happened this year:
1) We had less competitors from The Underground than ever before – NOT good.
2) Our BIGGEST donations came from NON members and visitors. I would have assumed our very own members would see the importance behind this and try to go above and beyond but I guess not. Our best donation in house was $ 60.
Our BIGGEST donations actually came from NON – members, with donations in the range of $ 100 – $ 250. Our HIGHEST donation came from Larry Wasserman of Breathe Fitness Studio.
This has always been an “in house” competition but this time around we allowed some outsiders to enter.
DeFranco’s Gym had 7 competitors and we had one competitor, Patrick Moore, drive down and compete all the way from Poughkeepsie, NY!
This was, unfortunately, our WORST showing ever. Our participation was DOWN BIG time as our 2nd year had 26 competitors, ALL in house. This time around we only had TWO college competitors, Curls and Chow.
To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. I am finding there to be TOO many excuses and TOO many stories with regards to why today’s generation of athlete’s can’t do this or that. I won’t enable it. Not in my gym.
Changes to Come….
LIFT STRONG will be a MUCH bigger event next year as I will be inviting competitors in from around the world and I will NOT ask athletes of The Underground TWICE to compete.
The minimum donation will no longer be $ 40. I guess this means some high school athletes need to find a job, which seems to be a strange phenomena these days. Work? get a Job? What!!??
It’s time to pay attention, get your act together or get OUT. Period!
Below is some of the action with part II and the final results coming shortly….
I want to thank the friends and family who showed up not just from inside the Underground but from those who follow me at my personal blog.
Stay tuned for Part II and the final results of LIFT STRONG 2010.
–Z–
I have THREE kick ass prizes for this year’s annual LIFT STRONG Fundraiser.
Watch the video below and see what YOU are gunning for. This is a time to compete and a time to benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
This Friday, June 18th at 4 PM will be the 3rd annual LIFT STRONG! Here we GO!
See you there!
Lead from the FRONT.
–Z–
Recommended Resources:
Our wrestlers are prepping for BIG things next season! What are YOU doing to separate yourself from the competition?
Some spots remain available at The Underground for SERIOUS applicants only. Athletes are accepted via Application only.
When you lift, you gotta “Lift STRONG” or not at all.
Exercise is NOT supposed to be easy.
Not if you want to WIN.
This Friday, July 3rd at 4 PM I am holding the annual Lift STRONG fundraiser to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Our athletes will be competing to help save lives, represent what our gym is all about and why it’s here as well as trying to win some KICK ASS trophies!
The info is below, please come show your support!
July 3rd, 4 PM
Underground Strength Gym
160 Talmadge Rd
Edison, NJ 08817 / Same Parking Lot as Apollon Gym
All athletes are making a $ 40 donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You can donate if you want but at the least, come by and show support for this awesome event!
Peace!
–Z–
PS: Can’t make it in person? Help us HERE.
When I first opened my Underground Strength Gym I began the planning for my fundraiser which was motivated and inspired by my homeboy, Alwyn Cosgrove.
I sent invites to compete in this strongman fundraiser to surrounding schools. It was 3 other schools in addition to the one school where I had many Football players.
I was able to speak to the Football at the one school and he had a meeting with his team. Yes, the entire team! A Football team in a LARGE high school has anywhere from 60 – 100 total players.
Out of the entire team, guess who was interested?
ZERO, NADA, ZIP!
That’s right. NONE of them stepped up to compete. Imagibe being the Coach of such a team where noone wants to compete outside their comfort zone. How would you feel?
Not long ago, I sent the wrestling coach of that same high school a special invite for the wrestlers to take advantage of 2 full, FREE weeks to The Underground Strength Gym.
3 took advantage, but 5 minutes later, 2 cancelled.
So, all in all, 1 took advantage, and I wrote about him below, always throwing up from the easiest, simplest workouts, none of which were ever fully completed. This was an upper classmen, a varsity wrestler, who said his Coach had him in the weight room 2 x week and was a conditioning freak!
In the end, this 1 wrestler did not continue his training.
So, this school, all in all, has proven they are against winning, against competing, and have NO motivation to become great.
These athletes will unfortunately pay the price in losses, injuries and disappointments.
Imagine living like this?
Imagine coaching these athletes?
Post your comments below, let’s hear em’!
Kill it!
–Coach Z–
PS: Who is motivated? South Plainfield Wrestling club is having me at their club tomorrow, Monday, October 12th. This is a team that has the eye of the tiger, a town where parents support their kids and with Coaches who expect greatness from their athletes – nothing less. It will be refreshing to say the least!
PPS: Are you a die hard, motivated athlete or asupportive parent in central NJ? Then call our gym and let me help your child reach his / her true potential.
(732) 379-9370
