Looking At Strength With Fresh Eyes
Rigo Same, owner of Crossfit OSC in Greer, SC, had always hated running, but he loved helping others grow.
So, when his gym members wanted to compete in The 2020 Child Freedom 5K, he said “yes.” It may not have been his favorite idea of a workout, but it turned out to be the most fun he’d ever had at a trail run.
After seeing his member’s excitement over making a difference at the 5K, Rigo wanted to create an opportunity for them to rally around CFC’s work through a CrossFit competition.
He reached out to our team, and The 100% Event hosted by CrossFit OSC was born.
In this intense CrossFit competition, participants from across the Upstate of South Carolina gave their all in every workout to raise support for the rescued children in South Asia. Inspired by the bravery of the rescued children, these men and women came with incredible hearts to help others through their passion.
They competed in 3 diverse and difficult workouts with pride, dedication, intensity, and excitement like we had never seen before. And the result? They raised $5,000 - enough to support 5 kids for an entire year and launch two students in our vocational training program.
“Being able to help raise money for those kids was so rewarding,” Rigo shared with us after the event. “Everyone had an awesome time and left knowing they made a difference.”
Now, Rigo and CrossFit OSC are ready to take on the 2021 Child Freedom 5K on September 18th in Greenville, SC, and are already dreaming big for how to expand the next 100% Event in 2022.
Throughout his life and his experiences with hundreds of dedicated CrossFitters, Rigo has discovered that the true test of strength goes beyond the physical.
It lies in people with a willingness to say “yes.” People who jump in, who choose to do the hard but worthwhile work, and use what they have and love to make an impact on our world.
100% of your registration fee gives child trafficking survivors new life and bright futures.
Katya has always tried to be strong.
Strong when she took care of her little brother Paal while her dad drank and her mom worked long hours to feed them. Strong when she hid her dinner away to give Paal at bedtime so the grumbling of his belly wouldn’t have him waking up in tears. Strong when she wrapped her arms around Paal and covered his eyes as she watched her father beat her mom to death in a drunken rage before turning on them.
Katya doesn’t remember much of that night when her father ran a knife along her and Paal’s throats, but they carry the scars as a daily reminder. When our team arrived on the scene that night, they immediately took Katya and Paal for medical treatment and, once their necks healed, brought them to live at The Children’s Home.
While Paal seemed to adjust almost immediately, Katya struggled. She wanted to be strong for her brother, so she held in her tears, her terrors, and her trauma so he couldn’t see them.
As months went by, Katya was slowly giving up. No matter how hard she tried to be strong, all she felt was weak, tired, and angry. She hated it.
One day Katya finally opened up to her caretaker, Yessa.
Katya was terrified that Yessa would be disappointed in her. Instead, the caretaker wrapped her up in a hug and said, “Katya, you are so strong for talking about this. I’m so proud of you.”
Stunned, Katya sat in Yessa’s arms. Never had she imagined strength could look like vulnerability. That was the moment Katya’s life really began to change.
Embracing her story and her struggles, Katya began talking with Yessa more often, and as she did, she started to feel better, braver. She told Paal of her own struggles and discovered he’d been trying to be strong for her too.
Feeling more confident than ever, Katya started going to school, making friends, playing, and diligently doing her chores.
