Nicole June Reporting
njune@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – A group of Clarksville athletes has gone the extra mile to help the patients of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.
The CrossFit SolaFide endurance team, which consists of 21 athletes, raised over $26,000 to be donated to St. Jude. The athletes signed up for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon and raised the funds through sponsorships and donations from friends, family, and the community.
CrossFite SolaFide owner Nicole Spitzack was floored by the results, since the group’s original goal was $5,000. “We were surprised by the generosity of everyone who has been involved,” she said. “People have been so generous, and it’s been so humbling to be a part of all this. The need is so great, and that’s really what drives us.”
The team does its best to help with local charitable organizations, and St. Jude held a special place in the hearts of the athletes.
“We have an incredible endurance team, and they are all such great people. It’s awesome to be part of such a great cause,” said Tori Butler, Endurance Coach and Captain of the St. Jude Marathon Team.
Butler and the other runners travelled to Memphis for the race, which was scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7. However, the marathon was cancelled due to severe weather conditions. “It was disheartening,” Butler said. “We had trained so hard and raised so much money. To be emotionally and physically prepared to do something like that and not be able to follow through is heartbreaking.”
Despite the cancellation, all the money raised will still go to St. Jude, and the athletes are glad to have been able to contribute.
“When you get a lot of people together working for the same cause you’re able to do so much good,” Spitzack said.