Catch A Lift Fund Wellness Program

Catch A Lift Fund Wellness Program is sponsored by Catch A Lift Fund. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Fitness Programs for Combat-Injured Veterans | Catch A Lift Fund changing bodies healing minds saving lives At Catch A Lift Fund, we serve America’s Post 9/11 combat-injured Veterans through fitness, emotional and physical wellness, and a powerful support community. What began as a promise to one fallen hero has become a nationwide movement, transforming lives every day.

Catch A Lift is where purpose is rediscovered, strength is rebuilt, and healing begins. Josue B. U.S. Marine Corps Catch A Lift Fund is dedicated to restoring the lives of post-9/11 combat-injured Veterans by providing the tools, resources, and support needed to achieve long-term physical and mental well-being, renewed identity, and purpose.

Through personalized fitness and wellness programming, nutritional guidance, mental health resources, and a nationwide community of peers and Veteran coaches, we empower Veterans to find strength, connection, and purpose beyond the uniform. From the battlefield to a new beginning — one Veteran at a time REAL STORIES. REAL CHANGE.

12th ANNUAL | Connecticut Benefit The Inn at Longshore, Westport, CT 4th Annual Baltimore Community Workout Onelife Fitness, Hunt Valley, MD 7th ANNUAL | Northern Virginia Benefit Army Navy Country Club, Arlington, VA This program has changed my life. My Coach's positivity and support were key. I have loved being a part of Catch ALift.

The program has helped me become fully mobile and has reduced my pain and PTSD symptoms. Just that it's an amazing program and it saved me from myself. The program's support and resources have helped me achieve my fitness goals and empowered me to embrace a healthier lifestyle overall.

Catch A Lift has not only transformed my body but also my outlook on life; for that, I am profoundly grateful. The program is more than just a gym membership; it's a lifeline that reconnects us to our inner strength, reignites our purpose, and rebuilds our confidence. What CAL has been doing is exactly what veterans need.

This program serves as the backbone of true, deep recovery. This program is a LIFE LINE. Thank you for saving so many lives.

We love you! CAL is a lit candle in a dark room, the bright moon during a night raid. It is the power tool vets like me use to focus and be motivated throughout the day.

Thank you all. Best life changing program I've ever been a part of! CAL has brought me back to life, so to speak.

Parts of me that I thought couldn't be revived have been revived through CAL. It's given me the tools to build my own future. I'll always appreciate what you've done for me.

I am deeply grateful for this program. It helped save my life, and I am encouraged to continue to share this program with other veterans. Since starting CAL a year ago, I am in a much better place, physically, and mentally due to being able to concentrate and focus on myself and my fitness journey 100% You have allowed me to see my feet and feel like a feather on them.

Thanks for getting my "ass" in gear and leading to be healthier life! I think what CAL is doing and has been doing is exactly what veterans need. I think this program serves as a backbone to true deep recovery.

CAL ensures that I continue to work out and be the best person I can be everyday! They hold me accountable and support me even on a bad day! CAL is a top notch veteran org and I am so proud to be a part of it!

Mindfulness, confidence, health. Mind, body and soul. I channel my energy from binge drinking to getting back into the shape I once loved and was proud of.

Still a work in progress, but one day at a time. CAL has really helped me to persevere, I have had and continue to have some setbacks but I have kept a positive mindset and a can't quit attitude. Changing Bodies.

Healing Minds. Saving Lives. My name is Dom , and I’m a Marine Corps veteran.

I served from 2004 to 2008 as a Field Artillery Cannoneer with Alpha Battery, 10th Marines. I completed two tours to Iraq in 2005 and 2006. Like every Marine, I was also a rifleman.

During my first deployment, I spent time in the city of Fallujah conducting door-to-door operations and providing security from rooftops. While also firing artillery into the city and surrounding areas. I saw things during that deployment that have stayed with me to this day.

On my second deployment, we were based in Al Asad, where we conducted EOD support and convoy security. We were frequently hit with IEDs and lost too many Marines. This deployment is also when I sustained my second TBI.

These combat tours took a toll on me, just like they do for many of us. Like a lot of veterans, I had to navigate the ups and downs of transitioning to civilian life. There were long stretches where motivation was hard to find, and I didn’t feel like myself.

For a long time, I told myself I didn’t have a problem because I wasn’t missing limbs. I didn’t understand that I was dealing with PTSD. Over time, I let my body and mind go, and I became obese and unhealthy.

Eventually, I made the decision to start taking my health seriously again, one step at a time. Over the past couple of years, I’ve focused on improving both my physical and mental health, and it’s been one of the most meaningful challenges I’ve taken on since leaving the service. Since joining Catch A Lift in May 2025, I’ve lost 75 pounds and brought my A1C down to a healthy level.

I’ve also been able to come off blood pressure medication. I’ve now been sober for two years, which has played a huge role in staying consistent and continuing to move forward. One of the biggest benefits of joining Catch A Lift has been the ability to exercise at my own pace using the equipment I received after completing Phase 1.

Having access to my coach, Coach Mo, has made a major difference in keeping me accountable and progressing the right way. The Strengthlete app has also been a great tool in helping me stay on track and committed to my fitness journey. I’ve set a goal for myself to reach 195 pounds by the age of 45.

As of writing this, I have two years and about 80 pounds to go. That consistency has carried over into other parts of my life, especially golf. Golf has become more than just a hobby for me.

It’s an outlet, a way to reset mentally, and something I genuinely look forward to. Being part of Catch A Lift has added another level to that. It’s given me the physical tools to get back outside and enjoy the game again.

My stamina has improved tremendously, and I no longer deal with knee and back pain after 18 holes. I’ve also gained noticeable clubhead speed and distance. Right now, I’m continuing to build on that momentum.

I’m working on my game, staying committed to my health, and looking ahead to what’s next. I plan to start playing in tournaments, especially ones that support veteran organizations. I also want to play golf courses across this beautiful country.

I’m grateful for the opportunities Catch A Lift has provided and proud to be part of a community that continues to support veterans in such a real and impactful way. I’ll leave you with a mantra I repeat to myself often: “I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m a long way from where I started. ” I proudly served in the U.

S . Army from 1994–1996 before returning to active duty after the attacks of 9/11. In 2004, while deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom, I was seriously wounded in the Battle of Sadr City while responding to assist fellow Soldiers under heavy enemy fire.

I sustained multiple gunshot wounds, spinal fractures, and a traumatic brain injury that ended my military career and resulted in permanent disabilities. That day claimed the lives of eight Soldiers from my unit and forever changed the lives of many others, including mine. After retiring from the Army in 2005, I spent years undergoing surgeries, physical therapy, and rehabilitation while searching for ways to manage my injuries.

In 2021, I underwent a major spinal fusion to repair injuries sustained in combat, but serious surgical complications left me with even greater pain, reduced mobility, and increasing dependence on my family. I struggled with chronic pain, depression, and the belief that my physical health would never improve. Most days were spent simply trying to get through the pain.

I first learned about Catch A Lift through Coach Jason Smith several years before joining. At the time, I didn’t think my body could handle a fitness program, and I told him I wasn’t ready. He simply told me that when I was ready to make a change, he would be there.

Years later, he kept that promise and encouraged me to take the first step. From the moment I joined CAL, I realized it was much more than a fitness program. My coach created adaptive workouts that fit my abilities while challenging me to improve safely.

Through nutrition coaching, accountability, weekly check-ins, educational resources, and the support of fellow Veterans, I found the tools and community I needed to rebuild my physical and emotional well-being. The results exceeded anything I imagined. During my first eight weeks, I lost more than 45 pounds, completed nearly 100 hours of exercise, biked hundreds of miles, and rediscovered a level of confidence I hadn’t felt in years.

More importantly, I found hope. Instead of focusing on everything I had lost, I began focusing on what I was still capable of achieving. My injuries will never fully heal, but Catch A Lift has given me the tools, support, and accountability to keep moving forward.

Through its focus on fitness, nutrition, emotional wellness, and community, CAL has transformed the way I approach my health and my future. It has reminded me that recovery isn’t about returning to who I was before—it is about becoming the strongest, healthiest version of myself despite the challenges I face. CAL didn’t just change my fitness journey; it changed my life.

Growing up as a boy in the 90’ s , I was a big fan of Top Gun. After watching Operation Desert Storm unfold on a small TV in my parents’ kitchen, I knew I was going to join the military and fly jets when I got older. Apparently becoming a fighter pilot is more challenging than just saying you want to be one; who knew?

My military dream wasn’t dead, just headed in a different direction. So at 17 years old, I enlisted in the Marine Corps. I thought I enlisted to be a tank crewman, but that didn’t pan out either, and I became an artilleryman in Echo Battery, Second Battalion, Tenth Marines.

It wasn’t my favorite job, but it turned out to be one of the most influential and rewarding experiences of my entire life. Deploying to Southeast Asia in 2003, we got back from that and a short time after, deployed to Iraq in the summer of 2004. By that time, artillery was not being utilized as much, as the nature of warfare was changing.

So we deployed as a provisional infantry battalion. Combat deployments are what they are, and while it was certainly a challenge, it was something that helped shape my character and mold me into a different person. Different in a good way.

Seeing the world in a different light than I had prior to going overseas. Valuing life more than I could have imagined. While dealing with a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress has certainly been a challenging situation, I have developed a skill set to deal with it in positive ways over the years.

That’ s where CAL has stepped in and become a positive force in my life. I heard about CAL through another veteran who had utilized the program in his fitness journey to heal from his experiences. I thought it might help put me on the right track, so I figured why not reach out?

I had always had a touch-and-go relationship with fitness. I would go through periods in my life when I tried hard to exercise and eat right, going at it with the mindset of harder is better, because that’ s what the military taught me about fitness. You must go all in, all the time.

Turns out that was not the healthiest approach to fitness for me, hence my back-and-forth relationship with fitness over the years. Working with CAL this past year has shown me that fitness is more of a lifestyle rather than a self-inflicted punishment that we all do because we are “supposed to”. CAL has helped me develop the mindset of “working is not something I have to do, but something I get to do”.

I now have the opportunity to move my body daily in ways that benefit my physical health, my mental health, and the well-being of those around me. The program has helped me develop a healthy approach to fitness and allows me to use fitness to improve other elements of my life. My wife will be the first one to tell you that I am a much happier person to be around when I get to exercise.

I see plenty of my fellow veterans who struggle with their mental health, which affects their physical health. While I may not be able to help them all, I can show them through example that there is a better way. A better life is possible, despite everything we have gone through.

Our time in the military was a big chapter in the story of our lives, but it’ s not the whole story. CAL has helped me see that. I look forward to continuing to work with CAL over the coming years.

It has been such a positive influence in my life, and I know it could be for many others. I enlisted in the Army shortly after the events on 9/11 occurred. I started my career as a 13B in the Field Artillery ranks.

Halfway through my career, I became a Special Operations Combat Medic in the Civil Affairs regiment. I have multiple deployments throughout the CENTCOM region, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. I was injured on a parachute jump prior to retiring.

Due to the injury and life transition, working out and my health became a low priority, and that quickly took a toll. I learned about Catch-A-Lift, and that fueled my motivation to get back on track. CAL has been an amazing resource, and most importantly, it keeps me accountable.

I was able to lose some weight and increase my mobility. It is difficult to accept the fact that I can’t reverse time and become the young and fit Soldier I once was, but I can be the best version of myself today, and CAL helped set that in motion. I’m a Puerto Rican U.S. Army Veteran, mental health advocate, podcast host, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete.

My journey is rooted in resilience, and I’ve dedicated my life to supporting others in the veteran and adaptive sports communities. After losing a family member in the 9/11 attacks, I joined the Army in 2002 as a combat engineer and deployed to Iraq. My time overseas exposed me to repeated trauma and blast injuries that led to an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI) and severe PTSD.

Over time, I also experienced progressive vision loss and am now visually impaired. After transitioning out of the military, I worked as a service officer and therapist to help other Veterans, but like many, I neglected my own healing. A second TBI from a car accident in 2020 brought on seizures, mobility issues, and worsening vision, leaving me in a deep depression.

I lost my ability to drive, my independence, and for a while, my will to live. But with the unwavering support of my wife and organizations like the Catch A Lift Foundation, I found my way back. CAL has been a cornerstone in my recovery.

My very first Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition Gi — a Kingz Comp Gi — was purchased through my second grant from CAL, and I still wear it proudly. After my WeDefy grant ended, CAL covered almost all of my second year of training, with me only paying a small portion out of pocket. One of my favorite CAL memories was attending a golf event in Connecticut — not just for the sport, but for the incredible community.

The staff made it feel like we were one tight unit, and Coach Adam, whom I met there, still checks in on me and supports my jiu-jitsu journey. That type of follow-through is rare, and it speaks volumes about what CAL represents. Today, I coach and train at Ralph Gracie Jiu-Jitsu under Professor Regis Calixto De Lima, who is my professor, friend, and mentor.

I assist in the kids and teens program as a second-degree blue belt. I’m not chasing a dream of owning an academy — my true goal is to become the best practitioner I can be so I can help other adaptive athletes fall in love with jiu-jitsu the way I did. I want them to experience the emotional balance, mental clarity, and healing the mat provides.

I also host the Beyond Capable podcast, where I share the stories of individuals who’ve overcome incredible challenges. My mission is simple: to show that healing is possible, and that we’re never alone in our battles. I joined the Army Infantry at 27 and quickly excelled through intense training.

I deployed to Iraq as a sniper during the 2005–2006 surge when Ramadi and Fallujah were lost. Stop-loss extended my deployment. Returning home, I struggled to find civilian work, so I re-enlisted—but this time as a combat medic.

I gave up my E6 rank to start over as an E1, eventually earning back my E6 status. After finishing medic training at Fort Sam, I was sent to the 101st at Fort Campbell and deployed again for 18 months to Iraq. During my tours, I survived being shot, stabbed, eight IED attacks, and multiple injuries.

After returning home, I suffered 14 heart attacks in a year—one so severe I was declared dead. I was medically retired when my injuries caught up with me: spinal fractures, hip replacement, and ultimately wheelchair-bound by 2011. In November 2024, I stood from my wheelchair for the first time in 14 years.

As luck would have it, I was soon in a severe car accident—my vehicle flipped four times. I broke vertebrae across my entire spine and was paralyzed again due to swelling. But I refused to give up.

The Catch A Lift Fund was recommended, and in March of 2025, I became a Member. This program has changed my life. My Coach’s positivity and support were key.

Now I walk over an hour nonstop, chop firewood, and do yard work. I co-lead a veterans’ Bible study and mentor others through Veterans Court. I’ve found a new purpose in helping fellow vets.

I even donated 5 acres of my 90-acre property near Lake of the Ozarks to a fellow Purple Heart recipient facing homelessness. They’ve become family. Life is good—and I’m living proof that with the right help and mindset, anything is possible.

In 2023, I hit a turning point. Years after serving as a Combat Medic in the U.S. Army—deploying to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Korea—I faced battles I never expected. Exposure to burn pits overseas left me fighting sarcoidosis and asthma, attacking my lungs every day.

I was also living with PTSD, insomnia, and the daily challenge of staying sober. But I made a choice that year to fight for myself. That’s when I found Catch A Lift.

I began the program in 2023 with one goal: to lose weight and take back control of my life. I believed fitness could train not just my body, but my heart and my mind too. I committed to the journey, and it worked.

Every workout became a win against the pain, the trauma, and the scars—both visible and invisible. Even while undergoing chemotherapy for sarcoidosis, I kept pushing forward. Fitness became my therapy.

I fell in love with running and CrossFit. These weren’t just activities—they were lifelines. They reminded me who I was before the darkness set in, and showed me who I could still become.

In March 2025, I crossed the finish line of the Rabid Raccoon Race—another huge milestone on this journey. And I’m not done yet. I’ve got my sights set on competing in another 100-mile race.

With every step, I carry the strength of those still fighting and the memory of those we lost. This July marks two years of sobriety. That alone is a milestone I never thought I’d reach.

But I’ve learned something powerful: even when there’s no hope in sight, you just have to keep going. Something- or someone—is out there that will change your life. For me, that was Catch A Lift.

Catch A Lift gave me a mission again—a reason to get up, train, and believe. It gave me a second chance. I want to say to any veteran struggling: Just win the day.

You don’t have to win the war all at once. Just today. Then tomorrow.

Then the next. Keep showing up—even when it hurts or is hard, because you’re worth it. CAL has been one of the most important tools in my toolbox—helping me battle depression, manage anxiety, and feel human again.

This photo represents the incredible impact Catch A Lift Fund has had on my life. When I joined over three years ago, I weighed 300 pounds and was facing overwhelming physical and emotional challenges. I was stuck, unsure of how to move forward.

Through CAL’s guidance—especially the nutritional coaching, structured support, and encouragement from the team—I began to take control of my health, rebuild my confidence, and rediscover my self-worth. CAL didn’t just help me improve physically; they helped me heal mentally and emotionally.

The Catch A Lift Fund motivated me to pursue my Certified Personal Trainer certification so I could not only continue pushing forward on my own journey but also help others do the same. I cannot thank CAL enough – I found this program when I felt all was lost. My transformation has been truly life-changing, and I’m forever grateful for the role CAL has played in it.

I grew up in Pleasantville, New Jersey, and became a father at just 17 years old. With the responsibility of raising my son and the need to provide, I joined the United States Marine Corps in 2009. After graduating from boot camp at Paris Island, I became a Combat Engineer and deployed to Afghanistan with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines.

On my very first mission in June 2010, my vehicle struck an IED. I was knocked unconscious and suffered multiple injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, and was awarded the Purple Heart. That moment sparked a determination in me to never feel that kind of weakness again.

From then on, fitness became more than just training—it became survival. I dedicated every spare moment to the gym, building strength and resilience through deployments with 2/5 Marines and later with MWSS-273, where I trained alongside Tongan Marines and even competed in rugby matches during downtime. The discipline and mental toughness I gained in the Marines forged the foundation of my journey.

By the time I left active duty in 2013, my mission was no longer just about combat readiness, but about recovery, rebuilding, and inspiring others through fitness. That path led me to powerlifting, where years of discipline and perseverance transformed me from struggling with 225 lbs on bench press to breaking Florida state records in both bench and deadlift by 2025.

With the support of organizations like Catch A Lift Fund and the brotherhood of fellow Purple Heart recipients, I’ve learned that true strength comes from struggle and sacrifice. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. The Catch A Lift Fund has been life-changing for me.

They have made a tremendous impact not only on my journey but on the lives of countless veterans, especially those of us wounded in combat. They provide knowledge and guidance in the areas that matter most—mental health, nutrition, fitness, and moral support. Most importantly, they remind us that we are not alone.

Through the program, I was connected with Coach Owen, a Purple Heart recipient like myself. Beyond fitness, we bonded over family, military experiences, and plenty of laughs. He not only built me a personal program but also gave me something even more valuable—a lasting friendship.

After completing my 8-week wellness program, Coach Owen continued to support me during my powerlifting competition. With the help of a grant from the Catch A Lift Fund, I was able to build my own garage gym. This was a game-changer, because there are days when I don’t want to be around others in a gym environment.

Having that space gave me the consistency and strength I needed, and ultimately, it led me to winning my competition. I am truly grateful to the Catch A Lift Fund for changing my life in ways I never imagined. My name is Aaron, and I am a US Army Veteran.

I did one deployment to Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division as an Infantryman. After leaving the Army, I found a civilian job and was doing well, but was always looking for something to help with the PTSD that didn’t involve drugs or psychologists, which I just didn’t click with. It took a long time and many failures to finally find that physical fitness checked many boxes.

Through another Veterans organization, I was referred to Catch A Lift. Before joining the Catch A Lift Fund, I was a casual lifter but didn’t really have any sense of direction or a routine to follow. After going through the program under the guidance of my Coach and the resources offered, I was hooked.

It gave me a sense of purpose and direction that I was lacking and drastically improved both my physical and mental health. My healthy hobby (and borderline obsession) now revolves around my physical fitness routines. The grants have given me the ability to have a commercial-level gym right in my basement that I can utilize any time I want to.

Currently, I am getting ready to get my Certified Personal Trainer certification as part of the first class of CAL’s legacy Members program. I could not be more thankful for Catch A Lift and for the drastic life changes that it spurred for me. I look forward to continuing to grow with the program and doing my part to give back to the CAL community.

My name is Chris F. , and I am a retired EOD technician. On 9/11, I was a senior in high school.

Life was falling into place—I was set to graduate, play baseball in college, and eventually coach. But when I watched the towers come down, I knew then that I wanted to live a life of service and fight against evil. That was the beginning of my journey.

I joined the Air Force in 2003 as an EOD technician. My job was to disarm roadside bombs. On my first deployment to Afghanistan in 2005, my team leader and two teammates were hit by a landmine.

They became the first casualties I ever worked on—and thanks to my training, we saved them. That moment shaped my career. I went on to deploy seven more times to Afghanistan and Iraq, disarming over 350 IEDs and thousands of pieces of unexploded ordnance while serving alongside some of the bravest men in the world.

But my career was filled with trauma. I witnessed 26 of my teammates take their last breath. I was in multiple explosions, countless firefights, and lived with pain and chaos.

Eventually, the injuries caught up with me—brain damage, spinal cord and nerve damage, and sleepless nights filled with the faces of my fallen brothers. Even while working as a bomb tech at the White House, I felt my life unraveling. Then a friend introduced me to Lynn Coffland.

In an hour-long conversation at a Chick-fil-A in Annapolis, she told me about her brother Chris’s sacrifice and how Catch A Lift began. She spoke about therapy through fitness—something I didn’t realize how badly I needed. CAL gave me the chance to refocus all of my anger and pain into becoming the father my kids need, the husband my wife deserves, and a man who can help others walk this same path.

Through CAL, I found purpose. I found brothers, who are also CAL Members, like Jason and Matt , who remind me daily what faith and determination look like. Most importantly, CAL gave my family and me a chance not just to recover, but to thrive.

I joined the National Guard in 2000 as a Cannon Fire Direction Controller when I was in college because I knew I wanted to serve. After 9/11, I moved to active duty and served in the First Cavalry at Ft Hood. I deployed to Iraq in 2004-05, where I provided security escort for the Coalition Provisional Authority, followed by the U.S. Embassy.

After returning home, I left Active Duty to serve in the National Guard until the end of 2008 as a 68W working for the Michigan State Medical Command. I started with CAL in 2013 because I was out of shape and needed a change. When I left the Army, I was pretty fit, and for quite a while after, I spent time in the gym while