CrossFit South Bend

Hey everyone,

On Saturday May 5th we will be closing down CrossFit South Bend.

In place of your normal class you’d attend, we’d like it if you could all meet up and support this cause with us.

What? Walk MS with Team Deme

Where? Indiana University South Bend – 1700 Mishawaka Ave, South Bend, IN

When/Time? Registration begins at 8:00am and Walk starts at 9:00am

Donate/Shirt? If you would like to order a shirt – see Amy and the sign up sheet on the whiteboard at the gym.  DEADLINE IS APRIL 16TH FOR SHIRTS!

Interested in joining with us? Click the here and click “Join our Team”

Brian and Demetria’s Story – Walk MS: South Bend 2018

Like many people at CFSB, I joined to find an outlet in my life and help eliminate stress. My primary job is providing care for my wife, Demetria. We started dating in college in 1999, were married in 2008, and became parents in 2014. Unfortunately, our nearly 20 years together has not been without hardship. In 2006, Demetria was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. MS is an unpredictable and disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain as well as between the brain and body. MS is different for everyone, making it challenging to solve. Most people diagnosed with MS have the relapsing remitting form, meaning they experience “attacks” or increased neurological symptoms that last for a period of time (from several days to several months), followed by a period of partial or complete recovery (called “remissions”). However, Demetria deals with a rarer form called primary progressive MS. It’s different in that there are no attacks or remissions, rather the decline of the central nervous system is slow and steady. Unfortunately, there are no medications that can reverse the neurological damage. Medications only offer the potential to slow the progression of the disease.

A few years after her diagnosis, Demetria started to experience a rapid, severe, and unusual decline in her neurological system, developing very serious physical disabilities not typically associated with MS patients. By the end of 2010, she essentially required 24/7 care. It’s been a tough journey for my family, but we continue to fight her disease together and Demetria’s perseverance continues to provide a source of inspiration. Remember, we were blessed to have a child in 2014! The love, energy, and enthusiasm that our son displays every day is a reflection of Demetria’s spirit.

Last summer, I joined CFSB to start “caring for the caregiver.” My journey at CFSB has been amazing. I immediately loved the feeling of peace as I focused on completing (or surviving) the WOD. I truly want to thank all the coaches and all the members for the roles you play in helping me achieve improved physical fitness and life balance. While accomplishing goals and achieving PR’s are a lot of fun, being able to continue to provide care for my wife is my real gain from CFSB.

Our families and friends participate in Walk MS every year to recognize Demetria’s fight against multiple sclerosis. You may have seen me at CFSB wearing various orange “Team Deme” t-shirts. My wife and I wanted to invite all of CFSB to join Team Deme and participate in Walk MS: South Bend on Saturday, May 5th. Since 2014, Team Deme has raised over $5,000 for the National MS Society. The money raised helps the National MS Society fund research, advocate for change, and support programs for those impacted by MS – programs that my family has used to obtain home care, medication, and medical equipment. It makes a big difference in many lives. Please consider donating to our team and/or joining us on May 5th for Walk MS: South Bend. You can use the following link to view our team’s webpage and get more information about Walk MS:

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/deme18

Finally, we make orange t-shirts every year to give to those that join us at Walk MS. If you plan to walk or want to rock an orange shirt, please let us know your t-shirt size by Monday, April 16th. Thanks so much to the CFSB community for your love and support!

Brian and Demetria Smith