11 Connecticut Crossfit Gyms Raise Over $10,000 For One Year Old Cameron.
Cameron (Cam) Simpson, of Trumbull, is a one year old suffering from AHC (Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood), a rare genetic disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of temporary paralysis, stiffness and unusual eye movements. There is currently no cure for AHC.
Across Connecticut this week, 11 local Crossfit gyms joined together to participate and compete in “the Cam” Workout of the Day to raise funds for the AHC Foundation (ahckids.org), an organization striving to develop research for effective treatments, to find a cure and for the family of Cameron.
The Cam workout or “WOD” was designed by Molly McMugh, Cameron’s cousin. It challenged the gym members to do 19 repetitions of a variety of exercises and to do it as many times as possible in 19 minutes. Why 19? Cameron’s mother Corie Simpson explains, “19 is the number of the chromosome that is mutated in Cam’s genetic make up and in those that suffer from AHC.”
Cam is a happy little 1 year old boy that is literally one in a million, as the prevalence rate of the mutation is one in a million. He adores his older brother Tyler and he and his family enjoy life in CT as much as possible. But with Cameron suffering from the rare AHC, life can be hard to predict. Corie says, “AHC presents itself in the form of an episode that can last a few minutes, days or even weeks. There is no way to predict an episode and no cure for the disorder”. Cameron, along with just 850 cases worldwide, will grow up with the disorder and its symptoms.
Molly McHugh of SOSF in Fairfield explains “Crossfit is a community and WODs are regularly dedicated to great people who have suffered or who has overcome great challenge. Cam, at only one year old, is living with something that none of us knew even existed. It’s amazing that the Crossfit community across Connecticut came out to help us raise over $10,000.”
Eileen Crossin, a friend of Cameron’s parents and a participant in the Cam WOD was ecstatic “We think over 250 people participated over this week to represent Cam and all of the other sufferers of AHC. It’s beyond our wildest dreams that we’ve raised $10,000. It’s truly amazing”
Corie and Cam’s thank you video and fundraising update can be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/206580903
19 pullups
19 thrusters
19 Double under skips
19 sit ups
19 calorie bike
19 push ups
19 wall ball
19 box jumps
19 push press
19 kettle bell swings
The following gym’s participated:
Rough House, Black Rock – www.roughhousecrossfit.com
Hybrid Athletics, Bridgeport – www.hybridathletics.com
Hybrid Athletics, Stamford - www.hybridathletics.com
Crossfit KMK, Fairfield – www.crossfitkmk.com
SOSF, Fairfield – www.sosfairfield.com
Down Under Fitness, Fairfield – www.downunderfitness.net
Crossfit Expressions, Stratford – www.crossfitexpressions.com
Crossfit TriTown, Monroe – www.crossfittritown.com
Crossfit Stamford, Stamford – www.crossfitstamford.com
Crossfit Norwalk, Norwalk – www.crossfitnorwalk.com
Big Red Crossfit @ Sacred Heart University
A Cure For Cam is a non profit team that is raising money for finding a cure for AHC. AHC is a rare genetic disorder found in just 850 people across the world. Due to it’s unpredictable and devastating symptoms it is a disease that can completely turn a life upside down. In June, A Cure For Cam will be hosting a fundraiser dinner at the Gaelic American Club, Fairfield.
For further press inquiries contact: Simon Moore 203.893.7333 simon@mooreperspective.co
