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Six Wounded Warriors Head To Westport For Weekend Of Workouts For 9/11

WESTPORT, Conn. — In honor of the Sept. 11 weekend, the town of Westport and the Catch a Lift Fund will host six combat wounded veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan for the second Westport for Warriors Weekend, featuring workouts, community and camaraderie. 

The Westport Police Department, along with gym owners and trainers, to host fitness and fundraising events for six wounded veterans.

The Westport Police Department, along with gym owners and trainers, to host fitness and fundraising events for six wounded veterans.

Photo Credit: contributed
The Westport Police Department, along with gym owners and trainers, to host fitness and fundraising events for six wounded veterans.

The Westport Police Department, along with gym owners and trainers, to host fitness and fundraising events for six wounded veterans.

Photo Credit: contributed

Mental Grit Fitness owner/trainer Andy Berman of Norwalk organized a weekend of events, including workouts at JoyRide Cycling Studio, Revelution Fitness and Achieve Fitness, as well as seminars and fundraising and social events. The last stop is a challenging boot camp at the Westport Police Department on Sunday morning, Sept. 11, to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. 

These veterans, who are traveling to Westport from Colorado, Florida, Tennessee, Ohio, Maryland and New York, have been chosen to participate in a program supported by CAL, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the physical and mental recovery of America’s post-9/11 combat wounded veterans. 

Founded in memory of fallen Army Cpl. Chris Coffland, CAL provides qualifying veterans with gym memberships, home gym equipment, fitness programs, and motivational peer support. The 2,500 veterans from around the country in the CAL program are reaping the benefits of daily health regimens and repurposing themselves into their communities through fitness. 

Many veterans who have been in the CAL program have expressed a re-found passion in fitness and desire to begin a career in the fitness industry. 

In addition to the workouts, Berman has organized seminars and discussions with Rhodie Lorenz a Westport resident and co-owner of JoyRide Cycling Studio; Andrew Kindt, a Westport resident and co-owner of Achieve Fitness; and Jay Ross and Julie Migliaccio, co-owners of Revelution, to learn the ins and outs of the fitness industry. 

Here is the schedule of events: 

  • Saturday, Sept. 10: CAL veterans will visit and work out with Revelution Fitness in Norwalk with co-owners Julie Migliaccio and Jay Ross, Achieve Fitness co-owner Andrew Kindt, and take an indoor cycling class at JoyRide with Rhodie Lorenz. 
  • Saturday, Sept. 10, from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. – Karaoke fundraising party at Revelution Fitness, 35 Lois St. JoyRide, Revelution, Achieve and Mental Grit Fitness clients will have the opportunity to donate money to watch their favorite instructor or trainer sing a karaoke song of their choice. This event is open to the public. 
  • Sunday, Sept. 11, 8 a.m. to noon – Workout at the Westport Police Department, 50 Jesup Road. At 8:46 a.m., participants will observe the nationwide moment of silence to pay respect to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. 
On Sunday morning, after announcements by CAL board members Adam Vengrow of Westport and Berman, the workout will begin with a Humvee tug of war between gym owners and veterans. Afterward, Berman will lead a motivating and challenging 45-minute boot camp workout for participants. 

At the end of the workout, participants with run to the bridge in Westport at 10:30 a.m., where a motorcade of policemen on motorcycles are planned to drive through. 

After a run back to the police department, Fairfield’s Colony Pizza will serve donated pizzas from their popular food truck. 

Vengrow, a Westport resident and CAL board member, is organizing the second annual Catch a Lift fundraising event Nov. 11 at Birchwood Country Club. 

For more information, to get involved or make a donation, contact Berman at andy@mentalgritfitness.com. 

For more information, visit catchaliftfund.com.

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