Send Jana to the North American Open Finals

Hi, my name is Jana Cancel. I am a coach and athlete at Atascadero CrossFit, where I have grown so much! This community has been my second home and the owner, Mike Turnquist, has given me the opportunity to make a living doing what I love. I have been competing in CrossFit (which includes functional fitness and lifting) for five years.

This year I decided to focus my attention on strength training and Olympic Weightlifting. Under the guidance of seasoned weightlifting coach Andre Acebo ("Doc") I was able to drastically increase my strength and improve the two contested lifts - the Snatch and Clean & Jerk. He encouraged me to enter a local level competition called "Money in the Bank" on August 12th, 2023 in Campbell, CA. To my surprise, my totals were good enough to gain me entry into the Nike American Open Series 2, a national competition held on September 15th, 2023 in Pleasanton, CA. Then, to my total shock and delight, I placed 3rd in my Snatch and qualified for the NIKE AMERICAN OPEN FINALS (35-39 year old division), another major competition held in Wilmington, North Carolina on Dec 7th-10th, 2023. My friend and fellow coach, Traci McMahan, helped me through both of these competitions, coaching me informally. I am so blessed that God has kept providing good health, support, and opportunities for this passion of mine. I had know idea how far my goal at the beginning of the year would take me.

However, I am lacking in the funds to go. I am hopeful to raise enough money to help cover the unexpected costs of the travel, hotel, and competition entry fee. This is estimated to be about $1,500. Any extra would go to my now officially certified weightlifting coach, Traci, who is volunteering her time and money to guide me through this journey. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!