FORT MYERS, Fla. – Athletes pushed sleds, ran laps and powered through burpees Sunday morning to raise money for Southwest Florida families battling cancer.
The inaugural Hybrid for Hope competition brought two-person teams to Apex Physical Therapy in Fort Myers for a demanding workout benefiting the Cancer Alliance Network.
Participants completed quarter-mile runs between stations featuring sled pushes, sandbag lunges, burpee broad jumps and 100 wall balls.
“We’re just bringing the community together to do hard things together, to raise money for a great cause,” said Angie McGilvrey, owner and CEO of Apex Physical Therapy.
The competition raised several thousand dollars for the Cancer Alliance Network, which assists cancer patients in Lee and Collier counties with everyday expenses while treatment keeps them from working.
“We help with rent, mortgage, utilities, car payments, gas and groceries when you’re out of work,” said Michelle Ciuffetelli, the organization’s development director.
For some competitors, the cause was deeply personal.
Michael Calogero, owner of IronStable CrossFit in Fort Myers, said the organization helped his family while his father battled pancreatic cancer.
“Amazing. I was just telling them my dad just passed from pancreatic cancer. Anything involving the Cancer Alliance Network, I’ll always be a part of. They were so helpful, uh, for my family when my dad was battling that. So it’s awesome to be able to come out and do something with them,” Calogero said.
The Cancer Alliance Network has served Southwest Florida for 24 years. Money raised through the competition will remain in Lee and Collier counties to help local cancer patients and their families.