Athletes for the S.E.T.H. Project workout fundraiser at Power Alley Crossfit / Photo by Beckie Boyd

S.E.T.H. Project inaugural workout fundraiser fights to end ALS, local CrossFit gym joins cause

BUCKHANNON – Strength. Endurance. Triumph. Hardship. The mission of the S.E.T.H. Project is a perfect representation of overcoming hardship while making a positive impact in our community.

The S.E.T.H. Project is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that was founded by Buckhannon native Seth Poling, who is seven years into his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS.

More than 150 athletes from eight CrossFit gyms across West Virginia joined forces with the organization on Saturday to participate in the inaugural ‘I Don’t Have Much Quit In Me’ workout fundraiser to benefit ALS patients.

“We, from the S.E.T.H. Project, are so honored and so pleased with the turnout that we’ve had for this very first event,” said Sarah St. Clair, president of The S.E.T.H. Project. “People have come out who do not even know our founder, Seth Poling. They’re donating their time, on a Saturday, to be here, and they’re donating their money to help us achieve our mission.”

The atmosphere of Power Alley Crossfit, located at 6 Traders Alley in Buckhannon, was electric on Saturday. High-energy music was pumping through the speakers, sweat was dripping and game faces were on. Without a second thought of how much these athletes were in pain, each continued on and finished the grueling workout.

“We’re bringing light to a debilitating disease, realistically, as it’s taken a community member and other people in the state,” said Matt Tankersley, co-owner of Power Alley Crossfit, alongside C.J. Day. “There’s not a lot of help and research [for ALS patients], so the S.E.T.H. Project came to us with this idea. Immediately, we were very excited about it. I like anything that brings health [matters] to awareness and helping someone in need.”

The workout was no easy feat. The buy-in and cash-out consisted of 144 double unders and 10 rounds of 10 box jump overs, three power cleans, eight burpees and six toes to bar.

The exercises were not chosen at random. There is a meaning to each number: 144 stands for the 144 registered people with ALS across West Virginia and 10/3/86 is Seth’s birthday.

“[The workout is] really tough, it’s not easy — but battling ALS isn’t easy,” St. Clair said. “As these athletes sweat it out, we encourage them to think about those 144-plus people who are registered in West Virginia as people living with ALS and their families and what they battle through every single day.”

A former teammate of Seth and his family came out to support the cause Saturday.

“It’s encouraging to see all these gyms from across the state that are joining in this effort and want to remind Seth that we’re all here for him, even if we can’t be there physically — we’re all praying for him and he’s always in our thoughts,” said Mitchell Shaw, a Power Alley CrossFit member and former football teammate of Seth’s. “His journey is something that nobody would ever wish on anybody, but it’s inspiring to see him fight it the way he has. This is just one small, little token of showing that we are fighting along with him, mentally and spiritually. We are coming out to inflict a little self-pain [during this workout], but nothing near what he’s going through, and we all realize that. We’re all pulling for him.”

As the intense workout concluded, coaches and fellow athletes came together to exchange cheers, applause and fist bumps. The support and camaraderie of fellow athletes was something that Shaw valued about Power Alley CrossFit going into Saturday’s workout fundraiser.

“This is the most fun way for me to work out, coming to CrossFit, because the people keep you wanting to come back,” Shaw said. “There’s accountability there. The camaraderie that’s built here is perfect for me because it keeps me wanting to come back.”

The S.E.T.H. Project team encourages the community to take time to learn more about ALS and how the diagnosis affects our neighbors and loved ones by visiting the ALS Association website.

Learn how to volunteer and donate to the S.E.T.H. Project on their website. Follow the S.E.T.H. Project on Facebook to follow along their journey to #endALS!

Featured

SHOPS & SERVICES

School board votes to post superintendent position, rescinds interim appointment

TENNERTON – The Upshur County Board of Education rescinded the appointment of Upshur County’s interim superintendent of schools for an additional year and voted to post the superintendent position vacancy Tuesday. During its March 21 meeting at Buckhannon-Upshur High School, […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

SHOPS & SERVICES

Softball Lady Bucs roll Preston in three innings, 20-3

KINGWOOD – After getting just one hit and shutout in their opener against Lincoln on Monday, the Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Bucs had no offensive shortage against the Preston Knights in a 20-3 demolition Wednesday evening in Kingwood in Big 10 Conference […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Lady Buc netters tumble to regional foes Wheeling Park and University

BUCKHANNON – The Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Buc tennis team squared off against a pair of regional powerhouses on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday at the West Virginia Wesleyan courts, they lost a 6-1 decision to Wheeling Park then on Tuesday on […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Tennis Bucs drop regional outings to Wheeling Park and University

BUCKHANNON – Playing in one of the toughest regions in the state isn’t going to do Buckhannon-Upshur head tennis coach Jason Rock and his young Buccaneer any favors this year, and he and his squad had to face two of […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Baseball Bucs run past Preston in 16-6 victory

TENNERTON – The Buckhannon-Upshur baseball Buccaneers 10-runned their second opponent in as many days to start the season after downing the Preston Knights by a 16-6 score in five innings of action Tuesday evening at William E. Phillips Memorial Field. […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

SHOPS & SERVICES

B-UMS releases third quarter honor roll

Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School Third Quarter: 3.5 – 4.0 GPA Sixth grade Ball, Taylan; Beaudry, Daphne; Bennett, Parker; Blonn, Roman; Brown, Payton; Browning, Brenner; Burnside, Delilah; Burr, Zoey; Canter, Bethany; Collett, Macy; Conway, Mason; Cunningham, Chance;

Michael Ruffing

Problem Solver’s celebrates its 10th Anniversary on March 23

Buckhannon, W.Va. — Problem Solver’s Consultants, a leading digital marketing agency that specializes in providing website design, social media marketing, email marketing, and marketing automation solutions solely for small businesses, is proud to celebrate its

ART26201 to host third annual Young Storytellers Camp June 12-16

BUCKHANNON — ART26201, in partnership with Upshur County Schools, will host the third annual YOUNG STORYTELLERS CAMP, open to high school ages, from June 12-16, 2023, at LASCAUX Micro-Theater in Buckhannon, West Virginia. The weeklong