TODD CLASEN REFUSES TO LET ADDICTION AND TRAUMA WIN
Todd said the meanings on each shirt and each story made him realize something. He had been living for several years battling addiction, trauma and a lifetime of type1 diabetes.
“I had a special connection to the LIFTED shirt as I had lived in the darkness and despair of addiction with seemingly no hope, on the verge of divorce, losing my family and the very reality of death,” Todd said. “Had my wife not been there to revive me as I was found not breathing, no registered blood sugar with no pulse from an overdose in 2014.”
Daniel Lubick, Overcoming Addiction
After coming home, Daniel relied on drugs and alcohol to escape life and all its emotions. If he’s honest with himself, drugs and alcohol helped him escape, literally, everything.
“I gave up jobs, family, friends and myself for a very long time,” he said. “I began getting DUIs at the age of 26. I racked up four within 10 years. The last one was in 2012. I was at the point in life where I wanted to die.”
Laura Cabrera
“Being disappointed is such a painful thing,” Laura said. “All the lost hopes and dreams shattered right in front of you as you learn the painful truth. I never knew of such pain and hurt. But, I took it one day at a time. Walking through the darkness and uncertainty using fear to fuel my courage to remain strong for myself and my son. I need to be his strong mom. He is my biggest motivation. All these weeks of failure and success have culminated into my first powerlifting meet.”
Elliott Castello
In those same seven years, Elliott has gone through two significant back surgeries. He didn’t suffer an injury or have an accident; genetics just dealt him a bad hand. Through a long journey, he realized there is no time to feel sorry for himself.
Brenton Raymond
Doctors told Brenton’s family that he wouldn’t live past three. That didn’t stop Brenton, though. He still has a huge scar where a tumor was removed that broke his femur.
But miracles do happen, and he’s turning 29-years-old soon.
