MANASQUAN — It’s always worth the weight. Since 2007, Zach Even-Esh of The Underground Strength Gym has invited brawny men and women, boys and girls and older “masters” to put their physical abilities to the test to raise funds for two nonprofit organizations.
On Friday, Jan. 24, participants gathered at the gym on East Main Street to compete in the annual Lift STRONG fundraiser. The event featured over 40 participants who raised the bar by competing in a deadlift strength challenge as part of the larger initiative that raised a total of $4,000 that was donated to Wade’s Army and The Brendan Looney Foundation.
Across seven divisions, the task was simple in concept, but difficult in execution, ultimately dependent on which competitor could deadlift the most weight. Even-Esh said, “I have a great quote from my friend, ‘They don’t call it a deadlift because it looks pretty.’”
The challenge invited participants to test their brute strength with one lift, while creating a positive community focused on contributing to a cause bigger than themselves, Even-Esh said.
Even-Esh hosted the inaugural lifting competition 18 years ago to benefit two different organizations directly connected to causes that made significant impacts throughout his life, in an effort to always pay it forward.
Alwyn Cosgrove was an early mentor for Even-Esh when he was looking to open a gym in the early 2000s. After messaging virtually online, Even-Esh found out Cosgrove was hospitalized and battling stage 4 leukemia. After reaching out to his mentor looking to assist him in his battle, Cosgrove advised that Even-Esh “pay it forward.”
After opening his first warehouse gym in 2007, the first-ever Lift STRONG fundraiser began benefiting leukemia and lymphoma research, leading to the annual lifting competition.
This year, Lift STRONG raised $2,250 to Wade’s Army, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting neuroblastoma by raising funds and awareness for children and parents affected by childhood cancer, according to the organization’s mission statement.
After being mentored by a Navy SEAL in his late teens and working with SEAL teams through The Underground Strength Gym, Even-Esh said, “it has been my commitment to continue paying it forward year after year for non-profits to benefit SEALs and their families.”
This year, Lift STRONG raised $1,750 for the Brendan Looney Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the lives of veterans by creating opportunities to improve the quality of life for families and individuals in the military community, according to the organization mission statement.
Following the event, Even-Esh told The Coast Star, “We’re all about getting the community together for a good cause, that’s a big focus for us.”
Bill Brown, a retired Navy SEAL who currently works as an attorney, attended the competition for the second year in a row to give a speech during the introduction ceremony and competed in the lifting competition. Brown is the founder and director of NYC SEAL Swim, an annual swim from Liberty State Park in Jersey City to the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.
During the introduction Brown said to the packed gym, “One of the things that help me, is I get with my buddies and I do these cool kind of events for a good cause, and that’s what you guys are doing here and I think it’s beautiful because I believe in, ‘I’m always better if I can continue to try to improve,’ and that’s what we’re all doing here.”
Donations for the event were accepted through cash and virtually, through Venmo, which allowed spectators from far and wide to contribute to the cause.
This year’s competition sponsors included Forever Fierce Clothing, Intek Strength, Batch on Main, Braun Bears Chainsaw Carvings, Within You Supplements, Westside Barbell, Burger 25 and The Committed Pig.
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