Fight Like a Girl back for 3rd year to support cancer research

Chelsea CrossFit head coach Jarrod Dodson and his wife Huntleigh have had 11 people close to them who have fought or lost their battle with breast cancer, including both of their grandmothers.

Huntleigh has already had two lumps removed.

“This disease is very real to us, and as long as I’m calling the shots, we are doing a breast cancer fundraiser,” Dodson said.

He had previously done an event called Barbells for Boobs, hosted by CrossFit gyms around the country. Because the organization did not have a presence in Alabama, none of the money made it back locally. So Dodson decided to create an event of his own.

CrossFit Chelsea will host its third Fight Like a Girl Competition at its space on old U.S. 280 on Nov. 23.

By donating the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama, the money stays local, the majority of which goes to research at UAB.

While October is breast cancer awareness month, the month is filled with so many events for the cause, Dodson said he decided to host his in November.

The first year Dodson said the proceeds totaled around $1,500, and last year was more than $2,500.

“We’ve got some things in place in hopes to make the check even bigger this year,” he said.

The event will feature two different levels of CrossFit workouts, scale and Rx. Dodson said even if someone has not done CrossFit, they can do the scale division.

All workouts at the event will be co-ed partner workouts, and Dodson is excited to have participants at the event who don’t do CrossFit on a regular basis.

The workouts will be released incrementally as funds are raised. Dodson will release a vote to allow competitors to have input on one of the workouts.

There will be 15 slots in each division for a total of 60 people competing. The registration fee is $120 per couple, and the deadline to register Nov. 16. Vendors booths will be $75. Local eateries will provide food, and Dodson describes the event as a “elongated tailgate environment.”

The event will feature three workouts, based on classic CrossFit Benchmark workouts, beginning at 9 a.m. and ending around 4 p.m. Last year’s event had 48 competitors and more than 150 people in attendance. Family and friends are welcome to come watch the competition and enjoy the festivities.

Registration can be completed at crossfitchelsea.triib.com/events/fight-like-a-girl-2019. For more information, visit the Facebook page @FightLikeAGirlBCRFA.