Come Raise the Rack for Breast Cancer at Fitness Fundraiser in Cromwell

Greater Hartford residents are encouraged to “Raise the Rack” for breast cancer on Saturday, Nov. 15. Whether you are a seasoned athlete not, come down to the Jiu-Jitsu and Strength Academy in Cromwell from 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. for an afternoon of fun fitness activities to help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer.

The lively event for participants of all fitness levels kicks off at 2 p.m.

Attendees can choose from five of the following strength-based workout activities in which to participate:

1. Team Truck Pushes

There is a “beater” truck where teams of two to three people push the truck back in forth in the parking lot. It’s a great, unique workout. There will be about two to three separate teams going where people can push it back and forth for 2-4 minutes, and then another team goes. The distance of the parking lot is measured and participants pledge to do a certain amount of feet. Limit is five times each.

2. TRX Atomic Push-ups

Participants can pledge to do a number of reps of atomic pushups. Average clients should hit about 30-50; extreme can hit around 100 (with intermittent rest). The participation is capped at 10 minutes.

3. Sledge Hammer Swings

How many times can you hit the tire in 10 minutes?

4. Clean and Press for Reps

Participants choose their favorite training tool—whether a sandbag, log, kettlebell, dumbbell, etc.—and see how many reps they can do in 10 minutes.

5. Lunges for Reps

Using their favorite training tool, participants see how many reps of lunges they can do in 10 minutes.

6. Push-Up for Reps

How many push-ups can you do in 10 minutes?

7. Bench Press for Max Weight

Participants have three attempts at a new 1RM.

8. Deadlifts for Max Weight

Participants have three attempts at a new 1RM

9. Bodyweight Deadlifts

How many times can you deadlift your bodyweight in 10 minutes?

10. Farmer’s Walk for Distance

With weighted carries, how much distance can you cover in 10 minutes?

For those drawn to the Martial Arts, participants can hit the mat for the following hour-long events:

1. Roll-A-Thon

How many 5-minute rolls can you do in an hour

2. Drill -A-Thon

Choose two to four technique combinations and see how many times can you do it with a partner in an hour.

Any martial arts class can participate!

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The entry fee for Raise the Rack is $20, and participants are encouraged to seek sponsors to support them and to set a goal of raising $100. Four levels of sponsorship are also available for $25, $50, $75, $100 and $150 respectively. Sponsorship funds will be collected the day of the event. Registration must be made prior to the event at the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) site. Non-participants are also welcome to make a donation online.

The Jiu-Jitsu and Strength Academy in Cromwell is hosting the 2014 Raise the Rack for Breast Cancer event. “The JSA is very excited to be hosting AND participating in the Raise the Rack breast cancer event,” said JSA owner Matt Bryers. “We look forward to bringing awareness to this disease and to training hard to raise some money for this worthy cause.”

The JSA is located at 229 Shunpike Rd. in Cromwell. Spectators are welcome.

The month of October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to BreastCancer.org, approximately 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop an invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2014, more than 2.8 million women in this country have a history of breast cancer. The organization estimates that 232,670 women will be newly diagnosed with the invasive form of the disease this year, in addition to 62,570 cases of non-invasive cancer.

Connecticut had the highest incidence of breast cancer per capita in women in the nation between 2005 and 2009, according to data released by the American Cancer Society in 2013. However, the death rate for women in the state ranked in the lower half of all states and is lower than the national average.

Women need to be vigilant about their breast health—wherever they may live. Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer for American women, after skin cancer. It also accounts for the second highest annual death rates from cancer for women, after lung cancer.

Men can also get the disease—1 percent of all breast cancers, approximately 2,000 cases per year, occur in men. In the absence of mammogram screenings, men should contact their physician if they find a breast lump or have bloody nipple discharge.

Learn more about how breast cancer is diagnosed and treated, as well as risk factors for the disease, here.

This is the first Raise the Rack fundraising event sponsored by The Walker Group, one of the largest IT services company in the state, to support the NBCF.