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CrossFit Lewes shares the pain

Athletes work out to raise money for member battling cancer
August 16, 2020

The CrossFit Lewes community is rallying around a longtime member who was recently diagnosed with cancer.

John Sadler, who joined CrossFit Lewes in 2012, was a mainstay at the facility before he moved to North Carolina with his wife Pam to be closer to their grandchildren. He was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer and immediately began aggressive chemotherapy.

His CrossFit Lewes family quickly jumped into action to raise money to offset medical bills, hosting Share the Pain 5 - Sadler Strong Aug. 8 at the CrossFit Lewes facility. The group’s previous Share the Pain events had raised more than $110,000 for local charities.

A group of more than a dozen friends gathered for a tough morning workout. Much of the exercising was done outside to adhere to social distancing requirements. Athletes wore masks and worked out an appropriate distance apart when indoors.

Sadler and his wife watched the entire event via livestream from their North Carolina home. Friends and former workout buddies frequently stopped in front of the computer to offer a few words of encouragement as Sadler continues his battle.

CrossFit Lewes owner Kris Carper set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for Sadler, and as of Aug. 12, more than $36,000 had been raised. Donations are still being accepted at gf.me/u/yiux4m.

Carper said she remembers Sadler’s first day at CrossFit Lewes.

“It was May 2012 and he came with his son Zach,” she said. “He shows up to do his Elements in his bare feet. I was like, ‘Do you understand what you’re getting ready to do?’”

But that didn’t stop Sadler, and he quickly became a familiar face at the facility.

Sadler had previously worked as principal at Delmarva Christian’s Eagles Nest campus in Milton. He also previously owned Abizak’s furniture store in Rehoboth Beach.

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