Message behind ‘Kara Stewart CrossFit Throwdown’
CrossFit Edify in Ammon hosted its first official CrossFit competition Saturday in honor of Kara Stewart — a local woman who died of multiple sclerosis.
“She passed away four years ago. She suffered from complications from multiple sclerosis. Today would’ve been her 43rd birthday. We’re here honoring the fact that we have bodies to use, and that we’re strong and that we get to be here and take each day and make it the best that we can,” said Andrea Dallimore, Kara Stewart’s sister.
So in honor of Stewart, CrossFit Edify threw a big event called the “Kara Stewart CrossFit Memorial Throwdown.” Stewart’s family and CrossFit Edify hoped the event would bring a little more awareness of multiple sclerosis to the area in a fun and competitive way.
“So we have three different heats. The first heat is a back squat and an air dyne bike, and then we’ll do a max clean and jerk with a max rep double-unders and three minutes, and then the last one is a surprise — the top five athletes from each category get to compete in that last one,” said Emily Smith, co-owner of CrossFit Edify.
CrossFit Edify plans to do many different competitions like this, and will be having the “Kara Stewart CrossFit Memorial Throwdown” as one of its regular annual competitions to give back to people dealing with multiple sclerosis.
“She was very athletic before. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 18 — she passed away at 43 she was a very athletic person before and this was something she would totally be a part of,” Dallimore said, “I’m so excited that all these people gathered here together to honor her. She passed away and let four teenagers at home and she’s got some of them here today. It’s just so neat to have everybody come here together and just celebrate the fact that our bodies are strong and that get to use them and keep making them stronger, and take advantage of every day we have.”
Tickets to participate were $50 per person and 100 percent of the proceeds are going to the MS Society.
