CrossFit: Battle Cancer kicks off with star power including Sam Briggs and Noah Ohlsen

Specifically tailored 12-week strength and fitness programme helps those in post-cancer phase

Gyms in the UK and US, boasting some notable CrossFit stars, have signed on for the cause which started in 2017

Reading Time:2 minutes

Samantha Briggs is one of the CrossFit stars who have signed their home gyms on to help Battle Cancer. Photo: Dubai CrossFit Championship

Published: 7:00pm, 18 Jan 2021Updated: 7:14pm, 18 Jan 2021

Like most people, Samantha Briggs has been touched by cancer.

The 38-year-old CrossFit veteran, who recently completed a 100km charity row in just over nine hours for Cancer Research UK, said she has seen the disease first-hand and the pain and suffering it inflicts.

“My grandad battled lung cancer and had to have a full lung and part of the other lung removed,” said Briggs, who came first at the 2013 CrossFit Games. “Because he was a fighter he lived for many years with just a partial lung and never let that stop him from taking his daily walks and going to watch his beloved Yorkshire cricket team play.”

Briggs has now signed on to Battle Cancer Program, an international initiative in which those in post-cancer treatment can sign up for a free 12-week specifically tailored strength and fitness programme. Her gym, Train Manchester, is on board, along with American CrossFit Games veteran Noah Ohlsen’s Miami gym, CrossFit Wynwood.

A number of CrossFit gyms in the UK and US have signed on to help the initiative. Photo: Battle Cancer

Battle Cancer founder Scott Britton, who is UK based and a former powerlifter before taking up the sport, said the idea is to help those recovering try to regain some sense of physical and mental normalcy.

“When people undergo or complete treatment for cancer they’re often left to return to life as usual, but for them that no longer exists,” said Britton, who has landed more than a dozen gyms to take part in the UK and the US.