We can never forget the true meaning behind Memorial Day.
It's not just another day ... and it's not just another holiday either. It's a day that means a lot to us at 1st Phorm, and one we do our absolute best to honor and recognize.
Because Memorial Day is all about honoring and remembering the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we have in America.
...and I don't know about you, but for me, that's something I don't think any of us will ever be able to repay. So, when Memorial Day came around this year, we decided to do something meaningful to honor these men and women.
While we normally all commit to doing the Murph workout when Memorial Day comes around each and every year ... This time, we wanted to do more.
We decided to call upon our incredible 1st Phorm community to not only get together and honor these brave men and women through the Murph workout ... But we also banded together to raise as much money as we could to support organizations dedicated to helping the families of these heroes.
Because, sure, doing a brutal workout in remembrance of our fallen heroes is one thing ... But if we actually want to make a difference, we knew there was more that we could do. So, we hosted the Memorial Day Lift.
What is the 1st Phorm Memorial Day Lift?
At 1st Phorm, we've supported our military, first responders, and community through numerous events and initiatives over the years. That's why we wanted to host the Memorial Day Lift and use it as an opportunity to make a difference.
You see, the Memorial Day Lift wasn't just about getting together to do the Murph workout. While yes, a lot of people showed up to put in the work and complete the workout ... It came at a price.
That price was a donation to register for the workout while also making a difference in the lives of the families who've lost a loved one in service of our country.
We promoted the Memorial Day Lift on social media, asking our community to get together for the Murph workout. To register for the event, we asked that they make a donation to reserve their spot for the Murph workout.
...and for those who didn't want to do the Murph workout, we hosted spots for an open gym. Heck, we even opened up donations to anyone who wanted to support from their city, regardless of whether they'd be able to join us for a workout or not.
For our first time doing it ... We were blown away by the turnout and donations we received, which was nothing short of incredible.
What Was The Impact of The Memorial Day Lift?
We truly have the best community here at 1st Phorm. With their help, we were able to raise $27,240 for three different charities that are making a real difference:
• Folds of Honor
• WillBinspired
• Gold Star Kids
Every single dollar we collected for the Memorial Day Lift went straight to them. That will make a big impact on the families these organizations help support.
But to give you an idea of what each of these organizations does to help serve these families ... Here's a quick breakdown:
Folds of Honor
Fold of Honor is an incredible charity that has provided life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military. Today, their mission expands to the families of America’s first responders as well!
WillBinspired
WillBinspired is an organization that provides military veterans and law enforcement with free access to 12-month gym memberships or fitness boot camps. At the same time, they offer mental health counseling by licensed professionals.
The mission at WillBinspired is to show those who defend us and our freedoms that they are greatly appreciated.
Gold Star Kids
Gold Star Kids is dedicated to serving the children of the Fallen Heroes who died protecting our way of life and country. These kids have endured great hardships and have suffered the ultimate loss.
Gold Star Kids works to provide support through grief counseling, scholarships, educational counseling, and financial support as needed.
Our Job is Never Done
The Memorial Day Lift and charity event was truly something special.
...and while we were able to raise a lot of money for these incredible organizations and bring our community together to honor our fallen heroes with some sweat and suffering...
It will never truly be enough to repay the sacrifice these brave men and women made. Which is why we're excited to continue our support of these organizations and look forward to hosting the Memorial Lift next year as well.
Because making a real impact isn't about what we do just one time ... But what we commit to doing time and time again over the course of our lives to make a difference.
If you didn't have the chance to make it out to the Memorial Day Lift this year ... I hope you are able to come join us in 2026!
