OCR United: Chrissi Shewchuk
Donation protected
Hello everyone!
Ok, so, what's going on and why did I make this thing? If you're seeing this, I'm going to assume you know or have met/heard of Chrissi Shewchuk at some point within the ocr community. She's the one at the elite starting line who ALWAYS puts on a smiling face and is always willing to help out another whether that's on the course or off of it. The Chrissi who posts motivation and upbeat pictures and videos on her Facebook and Instagram page, this is the Chrissi that everyone knows and has come to love being around. At the risk of her potentially hating me for creating this and telling her story, I can no longer sit back and do nothing to help her. I'm going to keep it as short and as simple as possible (but still probably long), so feel free to message me personally for more information.
Chrissi started the ocr season on a high note, competing at the elite level and being in the top 10 for spartan stadium point series. She carried her grip strength over to battlefrog and podiumed, placing 3rd female overall, at the new jersey race. She had been doing well at races, improving her times and results, and was dating someone she thought was good for her. Shortly after the battlefrog race, things went south with her significant other. Like it would to anyone, it upset her to lose someone she invested so much in, but hey that's life right? Less than a week later, she receives a phone call about her Mother who lives in Florida. Her Mom is being transported to Portland, Oregon to undergo treatment as she is terminally ill with cancer. This coupled with the loss of her significant other sent Chrissi into a downward spiral of depression. She stopped training, stopped racing, and struggled just to make it into work most days. Attempting to dig herself out of the mental and emotional hole she was in, she turned to some of her close friends in the race community. One of these friends (who will remain nameless) called and had Chrissi admitted to the hospital for a 72 hour watch protocol. Although I know this person had initial good intentions, they went aboout the situaion the wrong way and ultimately led to Chrissi receiving over $9,000 in medical bills for treatment and transport when all was said in done.
In a few weeks time, Chrissi lost her significant other, was told her Mother is dying, lost a very close friend, and was now over $10,000 in debt with medical bills and the every day bills of life. I don't know about any of you, but I know personally speaking that the above would break me down to my knees and keep me there. Not Chrissi. Again with the help of her ocr family and friends, she began to hold herself up and began training and racing again. She saw outstanding progress in October, put back on the weight that she had previously lost due to depression, and kept the smile we all know and love on her face.
Towards the end of October, she receives another phone call about her Mom. Her mom has rapidly degresed and is given only a short amount of time remaining. After maxing out 5 credit cards, Chrissi makes her way to see her Mom in Portland for probably will be the last time. It can't get much worse than this right? Wrong. Upon arriving back from Portland, she is called into the corporate office of her job and is terminated permanately due to downsizing. Even after this devestating blow, Chrissi continues to look up. She gets a ride to South Carolina to do the one thing that brings her happiness and joy, racing alongside of every amazing person, athlete, and friend in the racing community. It's the one thing that gets her mind off of everything, even if only for a few hours. A little over a mile into the South Carolina race, she slips off of the pre-soaked monkey bars and lands painfull and awkwardly on her knee. She is immediately DNF'd for the first time ever and cannot finish the race, let alone race the following day. She cannot currently walk and no longer has health insurance due to being laid off, so currently her leg status is unknown (im taking her to a patient first this evening and will update).
*UPDATE 11/3/16*
She has completely torn her acl and her meniscus. She will need acl reconstructive surgery (4-8 weeks until that can happen) and several weeks of physical therapy both before/afterwards. She does not have insurance since being laid off, and as I'm sure you're all aware, this is several several thousands of dollars (20k on the low end, 50k on the high end).I am going to be working my neighbor who is an insurance agent to figure out insurance through a combination of cobra and open market.
*UPDATE 11/6/16*
I regret to inform you all that Chrissi's Mother has passed late Saturday night. Please keep Chrissi in your prayers
*UPDATE 11/18/16*
I regret to inform you all yet again that Chrissi's good friend Joe has passed away unexpectedly at the age of 33. She was supposed to start work with him in a week to make some money on the side.
In the course of just a couple of months, Chrissi has lost two very close people in her life, has lost her Mother, has lost a close friend to an unexpected death, has lost her job, has oustanding financial debt, and now cannot do the one thing that still brings her joy and happiness in this world. Chrissi is an extremely positive person, always having a smile on her face and putting on a good front as to not let anyone see her battles that she is facing. Unfortunately, I am slowly but surely seeing that person being beaten down and withered away at. I know they say money can't bring happiness, but right now every little bit would help put Chrissi back on the right track. Whether you have fifty cents, a dollar, ten dollars, or one hundred dollars, please give what you can. It pains me to see a friend going through this, and it has taken everything I have up to this point not to share her story and do this sooner. She may hate me for doing so, but I can't sit back and be silent about it anymore. She has far too much pride and independence to ask for help, but she needs help and more than I am able to provide as a friend. Most people turn to their family in these times of need, so I am asking you, my ocr family, to help one of our own who is down and out.
Anyone who donates I am making something to present to her that will include everyone who donated that has not been made anonymous. I will also do a combination of burpees, pullups, and pushups in the total amount of donations received (1 per $1 recevied) If the overall goal of 10k is raised, I will go one step further and do something such as dye my hair white/pears for lung cancer awareness in honor of her Mother.
Thank you for your time in reading this,
Derek Rozanski
Ok, so, what's going on and why did I make this thing? If you're seeing this, I'm going to assume you know or have met/heard of Chrissi Shewchuk at some point within the ocr community. She's the one at the elite starting line who ALWAYS puts on a smiling face and is always willing to help out another whether that's on the course or off of it. The Chrissi who posts motivation and upbeat pictures and videos on her Facebook and Instagram page, this is the Chrissi that everyone knows and has come to love being around. At the risk of her potentially hating me for creating this and telling her story, I can no longer sit back and do nothing to help her. I'm going to keep it as short and as simple as possible (but still probably long), so feel free to message me personally for more information.
Chrissi started the ocr season on a high note, competing at the elite level and being in the top 10 for spartan stadium point series. She carried her grip strength over to battlefrog and podiumed, placing 3rd female overall, at the new jersey race. She had been doing well at races, improving her times and results, and was dating someone she thought was good for her. Shortly after the battlefrog race, things went south with her significant other. Like it would to anyone, it upset her to lose someone she invested so much in, but hey that's life right? Less than a week later, she receives a phone call about her Mother who lives in Florida. Her Mom is being transported to Portland, Oregon to undergo treatment as she is terminally ill with cancer. This coupled with the loss of her significant other sent Chrissi into a downward spiral of depression. She stopped training, stopped racing, and struggled just to make it into work most days. Attempting to dig herself out of the mental and emotional hole she was in, she turned to some of her close friends in the race community. One of these friends (who will remain nameless) called and had Chrissi admitted to the hospital for a 72 hour watch protocol. Although I know this person had initial good intentions, they went aboout the situaion the wrong way and ultimately led to Chrissi receiving over $9,000 in medical bills for treatment and transport when all was said in done.
In a few weeks time, Chrissi lost her significant other, was told her Mother is dying, lost a very close friend, and was now over $10,000 in debt with medical bills and the every day bills of life. I don't know about any of you, but I know personally speaking that the above would break me down to my knees and keep me there. Not Chrissi. Again with the help of her ocr family and friends, she began to hold herself up and began training and racing again. She saw outstanding progress in October, put back on the weight that she had previously lost due to depression, and kept the smile we all know and love on her face.
Towards the end of October, she receives another phone call about her Mom. Her mom has rapidly degresed and is given only a short amount of time remaining. After maxing out 5 credit cards, Chrissi makes her way to see her Mom in Portland for probably will be the last time. It can't get much worse than this right? Wrong. Upon arriving back from Portland, she is called into the corporate office of her job and is terminated permanately due to downsizing. Even after this devestating blow, Chrissi continues to look up. She gets a ride to South Carolina to do the one thing that brings her happiness and joy, racing alongside of every amazing person, athlete, and friend in the racing community. It's the one thing that gets her mind off of everything, even if only for a few hours. A little over a mile into the South Carolina race, she slips off of the pre-soaked monkey bars and lands painfull and awkwardly on her knee. She is immediately DNF'd for the first time ever and cannot finish the race, let alone race the following day. She cannot currently walk and no longer has health insurance due to being laid off, so currently her leg status is unknown (im taking her to a patient first this evening and will update).
*UPDATE 11/3/16*
She has completely torn her acl and her meniscus. She will need acl reconstructive surgery (4-8 weeks until that can happen) and several weeks of physical therapy both before/afterwards. She does not have insurance since being laid off, and as I'm sure you're all aware, this is several several thousands of dollars (20k on the low end, 50k on the high end).I am going to be working my neighbor who is an insurance agent to figure out insurance through a combination of cobra and open market.
*UPDATE 11/6/16*
I regret to inform you all that Chrissi's Mother has passed late Saturday night. Please keep Chrissi in your prayers
*UPDATE 11/18/16*
I regret to inform you all yet again that Chrissi's good friend Joe has passed away unexpectedly at the age of 33. She was supposed to start work with him in a week to make some money on the side.
In the course of just a couple of months, Chrissi has lost two very close people in her life, has lost her Mother, has lost a close friend to an unexpected death, has lost her job, has oustanding financial debt, and now cannot do the one thing that still brings her joy and happiness in this world. Chrissi is an extremely positive person, always having a smile on her face and putting on a good front as to not let anyone see her battles that she is facing. Unfortunately, I am slowly but surely seeing that person being beaten down and withered away at. I know they say money can't bring happiness, but right now every little bit would help put Chrissi back on the right track. Whether you have fifty cents, a dollar, ten dollars, or one hundred dollars, please give what you can. It pains me to see a friend going through this, and it has taken everything I have up to this point not to share her story and do this sooner. She may hate me for doing so, but I can't sit back and be silent about it anymore. She has far too much pride and independence to ask for help, but she needs help and more than I am able to provide as a friend. Most people turn to their family in these times of need, so I am asking you, my ocr family, to help one of our own who is down and out.
Anyone who donates I am making something to present to her that will include everyone who donated that has not been made anonymous. I will also do a combination of burpees, pullups, and pushups in the total amount of donations received (1 per $1 recevied) If the overall goal of 10k is raised, I will go one step further and do something such as dye my hair white/pears for lung cancer awareness in honor of her Mother.
Thank you for your time in reading this,
Derek Rozanski
Organizer and beneficiary
Derek Rozanski
Organizer
Middletown, PA
Chrissi Shewchuk
Beneficiary