Resilient Health & Performance in Brentwood and CrossFit Cool Springs joined forces to support local children with special needs and their families.  High Reps for High Hopes was a carnival-style fitness competition held on Saturday, August 27^th at CrossFit Cool benefiting High Hopes Development Center, a 32-year, local non-profit offering an inclusive preschool environment for children with and without special needs, as well as an on-site pediatric therapy clinic providing physical, occupational, speech and feeding therapies to children from birth to age 21.

CrossFit Cool Springs is a fitness community and Resilient Health & Performance is both a fitness community as well as an injury rehab facility.  Fitness competitions are nothing new for local athletes, but the idea of High Reps for High Hopes is the first of its kind by these fitness collaborators.  The inspiration drew from a group of CrossFit friends which happened to include a local firefighter and preschool teacher couple who have a child with special needs.  The two local fitness business owners and various athletes united to host this one-of-a-kind charity competition to couple the heart health benefits of fitness with the heart health benefits of giving back to the community.  Local Williamson County School student-athletes also came out to support the effort by volunteering at some of the booths.

So, what is a carnival-style fitness competition?  Contestants purchased “carnival tickets” to compete in various CrossFit competitions such as max pull-ups in two minutes or a mini-triathlon including one minute on the stationary bike, skier, and rower where the most calories burned secured the prize!  Kids competed as well with challenges like seeing who could hang onto a bar the longest.  Event divisions included men, women, masters and kids, so everyone was able participate.  Those that were not CrossFit competitors were still able to win one of the raffles for great items including fitness gear & apparel, lifting weights, a Fleet Feet gift package and MORE!

This family friendly charity event also had the usual carnival tastes of popcorn and cotton candy, as well as the fun environment where all could “step right up” and compete to “win a prize”.  The big winners though, were the children and families of High Hopes Development Center.  High Reps for High Hopes raised over $8,000.00 at the event, and through a charitable matching grant, that amount will be doubled totaling $16,000.00.

High Hopes Development Center is a 32-year non-profit organization that loves, nurtures, and educates children with two integrated programs helping each child reach their maximum potential.  Children ages 6 weeks to Pre-K, with and without special needs, are educated together in inclusive preschool classrooms by a team of experienced teachers supporting the individual needs of each child.   High Hopes is the only inclusive preschool in Williamson County with an on-site pediatric therapy clinic, allowing children to receive therapy services during their preschool day. High Hopes is truly unique in the way that children with and without special needs such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other developmental delays play, learn, and grow together every day. The outpatient pediatric therapy clinic provides children from birth to 21 years multiple therapies in one location: occupational, speech, physical, and feeding therapies. High Hopes gives children of all intellectual, physical and mental abilities the opportunity to learn and grow together in an environment that provides a strong foundation for future academic and social success.

For more information, visit www.highhopesforkids.org.