Though Dominick Fortino and Ant Lucic, owners of Queen’s beloved CrossFit Bell, have long been supporters of the Barbells for Boobs organization, it was in the throes of moving their business from Bayside to the Long Island City area that they were made aware of the close personal ties this community has to the breast cancer fight. Fortino explained the 2013 fundraising season as a real eye-opener. “We went from a few thousand in 2012 to over $17,000 in donations in 2013,” he said. “And that came from the fundraising efforts of only 25 individuals.” After getting settled in to their new home, the 2014 campaign brought in $27,000, putting the CrossFit Bell family in the top 10 fundraising teams (amongst 3,000 affiliates) for two years in a row, and earning them a place on the Pink Bra Tour. “I don’t know if it is the case everywhere across the country, but in this area, it is difficult to find people who haven’t been personally affected in some way by breast cancer,” explains Fortino. Each year, members of the Barbells for Boobs family set out on what they refer to as a “Thank You Tour,” traveling across the country to meet the top 10 fundraising teams, community advocates and partners, sharing their message and raising awareness of the importance of early breast cancer screenings. This year’s visit was held on Sunday, Sept. 13, and was set up as a competitive event bringing teams of athletes from the area together for a day of sharing stories, building friendships and getting a great workout while supporting an important cause. It is clear from the images, blogs and social media posts that the day was a great success. Listening to Fortino describe Z and the Barbells for Boobs staff and their visits, I am confident that this on-the-ground personal attention to the mission is what speaks to the heart of the CrossFit community, both nationally and here in western Queens. “They do it the right way,” Fortino says. “The money raised is being used for services within our community. One example is the partnership with Project Renewal Scan Van here in NYC. The funds allocated through this fundraising is providing mammography services to many individuals that would otherwise not have access.” There is quite a great deal of respect and mutual admiration between the Barbells for Boobs organization and the CrossFit Bell family. Upon my initial correspondence with the Barbells for Boobs office about this feature, I received emails singing the praises of Fortino and Lucic and their commitment to this work. I was thrilled to find that the accolades were well deserved. The enthusiasm was contagious, and I look forward to experiencing next year’s event in person. Cancer does not care how old you are. Early detection saves lives. Though we shouldn’t have to fight so hard for these services, it is inspiring to know there are people stepping up to help us help ourselves. Enormous thanks to Barbells for Boobs, Dom Fortino and the CrossFit Bell family! For further information, I encourage you to check out barbellsforboobs.org, facebook.com/BarbellsforBoobs and the Instagram account @barbellsforboobs. For information on CrossFit Bell, visit crossfitbell.com, facebook.com/baysidebarbell or the Instagram account @ crossfitbell. The Queens connection the pink bra tour
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