SIOUX CENTER—When a friend is hurt, it’s one thing to walk alongside him, but members of Snap Fitness are taking that to another level next week in support of a Sioux Center man undergoing treatment for a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
These Snap Fitness members will put their sweat to work in this exercise of friendship and camaraderie as they use the gym’s stair climber machine, treadmills and ellipticals and log their progress for pledges to benefit 36-year-old Kevin Christian, who was recently diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Anyone can sign up to participate at Snap Fitness, located at 108 16th St. SW in Sioux Center, and log the number of miles or steps made from June 8-14. A donation box has also been set up at the front counter.
According to Sioux Center Snap Fitness owner Carter Jacobson, Christian has been a regular face at the gym for more than 10 years. In that time, he’s become a friend and a piece of the family-like culture that permeates the gym.
“We have each other’s backs, we’re here to help you. It’s not like something you see in movies, where you’re shunned; it doesn’t matter where you are on your fitness journey. As long as you’re here doing something, you’re doing good,” Jacobson said.
And so it mattered when he and others at the gym heard about Christian’s diagnosis, which was discovered while he underwent an unrelated surgery. When Jacobson saw him in the gym some time afterward, he had to go give him a hug.
“He told me a bit about what’s going on, and he was getting stronger so he could get ready for chemo, but he had to let his body heal from the surgery,” Jacobson said.
The idea for a primarily stair climbing fundraiser for him came about because it’s one of Jacobson’s favorite things to do at Snap Fitness.
“He’s always been known to do these workouts that look crazy hard and intense and he’s pushing himself. He’ll jump on the stair climber and hold 45-pound weights in his hands and walk on it. It’s a testament to who he is,” Jacobson said. “We hope to raise money to help him out with gas money or food or whatever. It’s the random kind of things you need during times like this.”
He knows Sioux Center has the kind of generosity to make events like this a success, at the very least as a visible show of support for people during difficult times.
“For Kevin, I want him to know we are behind him for anything he might need,” Jacobson said. “We’re just here. Family, friends, whatever he needs to get through this time.”