"Night of the Living Deadlift" event raises over $3,000 for school lunches

Haggit Barbell hosted a spooky and sporty fundraising event this past Saturday to help offset the cost of school lunches for families in Sweetwater County School District No. 2. Five hundred people attended the "Trick or Treat Streak" 5K and "Night of the Living Deadlift" competition and trunk or treat, with over 25 competitors between all the events.

Chris Haggit, who owns Haggit Barbell, spoke about how this event originated.

"I had wanted to donate to the school lunch program for several years, but did not have the means to make a meaningful donation," he explained. "Fortunately, I am in that situation now. Several months ago, my wife Megan and I decided to put together a little fundraiser for the program by hosting a 5K and max deadlift competition. We wanted to make the event fun for everyone and something the community could get excited for, so we added the Trunk or Treat."

Haggit also explained that as the event began to materialize, more individuals and businesses came together to help.

"As the planning started and the event got some traction, we had folks reach out wanting to help," he said. "Chelsey Lipka spent a ton of time putting together the raffle and printed the crewneck sweatshirts for the event through her company Laser Forged."

Volunteers for the event included the Green River High School Cheerleaders, members of the Green River Fire Department and Police Department, Castle Rock Ambulance, Expedition Academy students, and local businesses.

The event started at 4 p.m. at Expedition Island on Saturday and included an "out-and-back" 5K along the greenbelt, with the first male and first female to cross the finish line winning a free crew neck sweatshirt. Winners included Ashton De Leon and Carol Combe-White.

Other activities included the max deadlift competition. Winners of the competition were decided by the last male and last female lifter standing. The winnners of this competition were Quartni Landeroz and Alex Kendall.

The event also featured a trunk or treat with the GRHS Cheerleaders and local businesses handing out candy along the island pathway. The trunk or treat was free for the public and funded by local businesses. McFadden's, Simplot, and Green Island/Rock Island Gym helped sponsor the event to offset the cost of candy and sanitation.

Raffle tickets were also sold for items donated from various Sweetwater County businesses including Kelly's Convenience Center's, Stellar Coffee, Stems and Co., Underdawg Nutrition, Green Island/Rock Island Gym, Scentsy with Jackie Thompson, Sherry Bushman of the City Council and Tammy's Cleaning Service.

"This event became more than I had anticipated it would be, because and only because of the support of our friends and community," Haggit said. "Between the sale of event tickets, raffle tickets, and the donation of time and proceeds, we raised over $3,200 for the SWD2 lunch program!"

Haggit expressed his sincere gratitude to all those who went out of their way to support and participate in making this event such a success.

"With all the support and positive feedback we have received, I plan to do this again next year, so keep an eye out for it," Haggit added.