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Will Schlucter: Kettlebells vs Cystic Fibrosis
10/25/2016
Will Schlucter: Kettlebells vs Cystic Fibrosis
You can learn a lot about a man by the way he shakes your hand. The first time I shook Will Schlucter’s hand, I learned that he could probably break all 27 bones south of my wrist if he really wanted to. It felt a little like sticking my head in a lion’s mouth and knowing it was just being polite by not clamping down. Then he put me through an hour-long kettlebell workout at gym, Will Power Strength and Conditioning, and I figured out how he got that strong. But Will doesn’t just swing kettlebells all day. He’s also skateboards, paddle boards, and competes in Jiu Jitsu tournaments. By anyone’s standard’s he’s got this fitness thing figured out. Oh… and he has Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis a genetic disease that causes a thick buildup of music in his lungs. Every morning he as to wake up early and put on a special vest that essentially beats his chest to break up the sludge in his lungs so he can breath normally. He’s been living with it since he was a baby. Will is 26. The average life expectancy of someone with CF is 39. Luckily, that number is climbing rapidly. And it’s not like he’s letting it slow him down anyway. “Rather than let the Cystic Fibrosis define what my athletic limitations are. I said lets see what an athlete with Cystic Fibrosis can look like.” So what do those limitations look like? As far as I can tell, he hasn’t found them yet. In fact, in 2 weeks, a man with a genetic condition that affects his lungs will be running the New York City Marathon. I asked him why. “My goal is to bring awareness to CF, raise some funds that are going to go right into Cystic Fibrosis research… but also show other people with Cystic Fibrosis that you’re not limited by this disease.” Will is an inspiring guy, a great athlete, and a living example of what you can accomplish when you refuse to accept the limitations you’re handed by the genetic lottery. If you want to support Will and Cystic Fibrosis research, you can donate through his link by .
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