Last Friday something happened at the gym that reminded me why ELEVATE exists.
You may have seen the golden kettlebell post about Tracy. Her story is incredible, but what happened afterward was just as powerful.
One of our long-time members, Kelly, is an oncology nurse at UMass Medical. After reading Tracy’s story, Kelly introduced herself to Tracy in the gym after the 5:30am TEAM session ended.
Kelly spends her days seeing cancer from the patient side, from treatments to procedures, and all the difficult moments that come with her job. What she rarely sees is what happens on the other side of that fight: people rebuilding their lives, moving their bodies, and getting stronger again.
Two people from different parts of the same story crossed paths inside our gym.
Moments like that are why the golden kettlebell award means so much to me.
When we first opened ELEVATE in March 2015 (then known as Worcester Kettlebell Club), we awarded the very first golden kettlebell to Alicia G., who is still with us today and has trained through four pregnancies. At the time, the award came with a $50 Amazon gift card. It was a nice gesture, but after the first year something about it didn’t sit right with me.
A gift card rewarded the individual, but didn’t give back. After talking with a few members, we decided to change that.
Instead of a personal gift, the golden kettlebell became a donation to an organization or nonprofit chosen by the member we’re honoring. What started as a $50 donation eventually grew into $150, and over the years ELEVATE has donated to more than 75 different organizations and community programs across Central Massachusetts and beyond.
That change made the award feel more aligned with what ELEVATE is really about.
Strength isn’t just about deadlifts, sled pushes, PRs, and kettlebells.
Strength allows people to rebuild after hard times.
Strength lets people show up for their families.
Strength helps people support others in their community.
Strength gives us the ability to serve.
That’s the servant heart – to leave things better than you found them.
Running a business carries a weight that sits in the back of my mind every day. Often there are nights I don’t sleep well because of the responsibilities and the risks that come with it. Moments like the one between Tracy and Kelly remind me why this work matters.
This place isn’t just about training.
It’s about people.
It’s about creating a space where lives intersect in ways we could never predict. A space where effort, kindness, and resilience show up daily. A space where the strength built inside the gym carries out into the real world.
Our goal moving forward is simple: keep growing the impact.
As ELEVATE grows and we continue to manage the business responsibly, we intend to keep increasing the amount we donate each month through the golden kettlebell award. The stronger the gym becomes, the more we can give back to the community that supports it.
Thank you for being a part of that.