"80" DAYS of Squatting for Brother's

I asked Lisa- Shakey's wife for some pictures to share!!!!
As you can see Miss "Shakey" sent me some great pictures of our brother!  Hopefully I will get her to give us a few words on some stories behind these also!  Today was day 80 on the road to we are all trudging together and it was a better day than expected.  I decided to try Zercher Squats again since they stopped me a couple weeks ago at 300# and I failed 2X at 315# which is the weight I set as a mark each day in June to reach.  Today was much better as I hit 315# and it felt good so i went to 345# which is the most I have ever been able to do....Thanks Shakey and JP for the extra push!  I have a video that I will post this evening and hope some words from Lisa too !!!

-NEW JULY SPONSORS-

Really excited again to start a new month and already have joined forces with Citizens Bank of Florida employee and the Ben Wilde Family starting off the new month!  I really want to thank Big Dave "Silverback" Coughlin who has been sporting our Shakey Shirts in all the meets he enters...he pushes me to become a better coach and person.

THE SILVERBACK

365#

Today my legs were not feeling very cooperative when I came to work this am.  I kept putting off squatting, so I coached some and then watched Big Dave Coughlin train for his up coming event and thought I need to get started while I have some studs here!!!!  Dave and I started squatting and after hitting 315# I knew I had more in me so I went to 345# which felt horrible....meaning instead of just standing up with a little effort it felt like a house was sitting on my back and it took 10 min to stand!  That really pissed me off because in my mind 345# should not be that heavy.  So I put on 365# and with a bit of grunting I stood faster than the lift before with less weight.  Needless to say Dave was gone so I didn't want to push it to much more without a spotter to help me.  I wanted to stop-I wanted to quit but I thought about you guys and my other brothers and knew I needed to try some more.  This coming month of July I will be at 320# for 31 Days which will be a hard test for me....but nothing compared to what you and your families face daily.  

Day 79 - 365#...most weight to date brother!
Also a brother stopped by and made a wonderful donation today!  I will post more tonight.....you all are loved and thought of....today proved it to me too

DAY 78

Sunday, June 28 2015 is Day 78 of the journey to raise funds for Firefighter's S Vansravenswaay and FF J Perez and their families.  Each month I have been adding 5# each month so in 2 days I will go to 320# for 31 days in the month of July....with God's Grace!  At the end of July that will put me at 109Days and almost 1/3 of the year of Squatting.  I am asking for help in ways of funding so each month I have cash to give these families who are in need of our help!  There is so much going on behind the scenes that we can not see that the families are going through.  Financially they are beyond strapped....NOBODY can plan for what has happened or be prepared for this.  If you can I ask for prayers to keep me going, sometime in the next 6 months I will have double knee replacement and for a few days will need Rachel to take over Squatting for a week or so.  I ask for the strength to get through this so I can honor my brothers daily.  Here are this weeks last lifts of each day....

6/21/15 -315 X 2, Mon -22- 315 x 1, Tues-23- 315# x 1, Wed-24-315 x 2, Thurs-25-315# x 1 All in S Carolina, Fri-26- 320# x 2, Sat-27- 315# x 1, Sun-28-315# x 2.

Shakey and JP, I as well as many are with you.  Do not stop fighting.  Love ya-Bull

71 DAYS of SQUATTING for SHAKEY / JP...and more

Not positive where to begin this but I am going to just go from where my heart and mind is right now  I just found out my Lt. from Squad 1 is also battling cancer and from what I heard he was doing better but it has come back with a vengeance.  A lot of the Squad crews have died or gotten very sick and I am pissed.  I am floored by the number of OCFRD men and women who have gotten cancer or some untreatable illness and not much has been done.  Maybe I just have not looked in the right places but from where I stand I don't see any group who is designed to help a family who is going through this.  I hope I am wrong but I can not find any.  WHY?  Is it that we never thought of forming an advocacy group or a group who can lead or counsel families when something so severe happens?  Do we just feel bad when someone dies or gets really sick and then forget like it all just goes away?  There are a lot of people in our department who are wiser than me surely we have somewhere for them to turn for help.  Something else I need to speak about....I received a call this evening that one of the families is having a very hard go of it right now...financially, that a job was lost or could be since they are the primary caregiver.  I NEED HELP.  I have been squatting for 71 days straight now and have raised a small amount of money  I gave $1,500.00 last week to a family and was able to put $200.00 in the fundme account also.  Before that between selling the shirts which I only sold but were made by Jenn Corbin, and the Sweating for Shakey HERO WOD we raised nearly $5,000.00.  Today another $400.00 was given from the purple shirts fund.

I don't know what else to do.  I am in South Carolina right now and am taking shirts to some firehouses here to sell.  I am also "maybe" driving to Tenn to get some shirts signed by some athletes for a raffle to be held soon.  BUT I NEED HELP!  I get a whole bunch of likes on Facebook but not very many messages or phone calls that say hey Bull i got $25. for the fund or I can sponsor you at $1.00 a day for a year($365.00- you can break this up in any kind of payment)  or even here's $30.00 for a month worth of sponsoring.  I know that money is tight ya'll I am in the same shoes.  BUT we and only we can do this together.....I will NOT stop squatting so I either do it and raise funds or I am doing it just so Shakey, Lisa, JP and Rachel know they are not alone and that every single day I am thinking and praying for them.  I now think about Mike Bean and Charlie Walsh....not to mention others that flood in while I get under that bar.  Some days it is those memories of friends who are gone that motivate me some days it's my word that I said I would so I do.   PLEASE spread this blog to non FF's to family and friend's who can afford to donate....please call me or message me with a donation.  Trust me those who know me know I DO NOT WANT TO BEG....but I will keep asking and I will keep squatting .  Thank you to all for the donations so far and for the wonderful comments...they keep me going.  I have or WE have 295 days left in this journey to raise funds and ease some of the stress.  Please reach out to those you know and maybe we can grow something big that will last for years and help many families, who knows we might be on the ground floor of making a big difference in many lives for years to come.  I know this...WE, together have started something! WE, together and it took ALL of us to do this, WE raised the funds I just told you about!  and guess what....IF WE had not done it...nothing would have happened..think about that!...YOU have made a huge difference so far and we are just getting started.  Thank you all again....much love-Bull

Andrew's garage in South Carolina, Sun last set was 315 X 2, today was 315X1

  

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY !

SHAKEY AND JP!

A PRESENT to you BOTH from your brother Engineer Dave Coughlin aka SILVER BACK

A Gold and Silver from his latest track meet wearing "THE HERO" SHIRT

We LOVE you both and wishing you and your families a Blessed and Beautiful Father's Day....PS...garage squats tonight from Summerville, S Carolina at my son Andrew's house - 315# X 2

This is what I felt like doing when I read about FF Mike Bean

-DAY 70- 

What I ended up doing 345# on a 18" box "Day 70"

I sent a text message to Shakey and Lisa, JP and Rachel this early afternoon confessing that i did not want to squat today.  My body was tired and it hurt in new places, i was tired and whaa whaa whaa.  I was embarrassed when I sent it but I wanted to be honest about this whole journey.  After a few warm up sets I prayed some and tried to put myself in Stephen and JP's shoes.  I thought about yesterday at the hospital as I watched JP use a cane and work his ass off just to get out of bed then walk to the bathroom, then struggle to get back to the bed and climb in and then I listened to his breathing and it sounded as if he had just ran a mile.  I thought hard about that today and about the day I decided to under take this whole squat thing, about waking up at 3 am and knowing it had to be done....It's days like these that I think make us better, maybe stronger, maybe wiser.  At least that's what the experts say.  I wonder if the experts squatted for 365 days?  There was nobody with me and I could have just pencil whipped it.  Trust me I have done that before years ago at different times and places and I am not proud of it.  I thought I out grew those thoughts but I guess I never will.  But I am glad I have out grown the ACTIONS.  You see JP and Shakey have to deal with this every single day,  they have to say "I am going to get up and I am going to think positive and push another day" "I am not going to just give up"....I thought about, if what I'm doing is really making any difference? Is it really helping?  As I squatted I started feeling worse and it wasn't really getting better, but I kept adding the weight to the bar and kept thinking about what my 2 brothers were dealing with, so by the time I got to the end I decided to show my body and mind that I am going to push it farther than normal so we went to 345# today which is 30# more than this months required weight.  A couple days ago I read a post on "D Shifts" FB page and the son of retired firefighter Mike Bean posted that his father has been diagnosed with lung cancer and asked for prayers.  I am floored by this, I am wondering what next,  I am tired of watching my brothers get sick.  Somewhere and some how we gotta find help.  I know there are people out there who are advocates and are there to help us get through these difficult times.  I also know the government needs to change and pass a bill to help us.  We need to make NOISE, we need to push this envelope across the table into the lap of whoever it is that makes the decisions and we need to do it NOW.  If there is someone out there reading this and can point me in the right direction PLEASE contact me ASAP.  My email again is ...bull101601@gmail.com....my cell# is 352 255 6421.  I will keep posting these until i get a email or a call.  WE NEED MORE SQUAT SPONSORS....PLEASE CONTACT FRIENDS,CHURCHES, BUSINESS OWNERS...ANYONE AND EVERYONE WHO CAN DONATE!!!!   PLEASE SHARE THIS BLOG EVERYWHERE AND EVERYDAY....WE are the ONES who are gonna make the DIFFERENCE!!! there is no one else out there...there is me, there you and you and you that are reading this and that is who is going to have to get it done.  I love ya'll for joining me and helping. I pray that you do not grow weary---I need ya, Shakey and JP need ya.  1 year to committing to making a change-that's it- take 1 year out of your life and lets do all we can to make this work- to make this blog become a website that will last longer than us and can pass on to others to be used for the betterment to help each other.  This is just the beginning.

in 3 more minutes we will be in DAY 71!...LOVE YA, BULL

Me-JP-Rachel-5/19/2015

Today was special, and I really want to thank EVERYONE who has helped bring this year long journey to reality.  I wish I could give words to the feeling I had today when I was able to hand Rachel $1,500.00 cash that was donated by ya'll this past couple months.  I also deposited $200.00 in the GofundMe the night before.  What we have begun to do is helping these 2 families more than you can imagine.  I listened to JP as he told me how important it was to know that there were people out there praying for him and his family daily and to know that he, that they as a family are not going through this ordeal ALONE.  I was there at the same time the Dr. was and was shocked when I heard him tell JP that tomorrow would be the 8th treatment he was going to have in the last 2 weeks!  And still NO answers!  As I thank everyone for ALL YOU HAVE DONE, I really need to express that we have a LONG - LONG WAY TO GO!....I need help with getting this message out there that the Perez family as well as the Vanravenswaay family are going to need help.  We have 1 year to build a large fund that will help ease the stress of financial debt.  And I know we can do this IF we do it together!  I will also be posting when they will be needing us to help out at the house with yard work or any other odds and ends of everyday living.  I am going to take a road trip over the next few days in an effort to raise more awareness and funds for these 2 brother's.  I will need your prayers as this will be a first for me.  I spent sometime with a veteran today, and he was talking to me about a 19 hour firefight he was involved in while serving our country, while keeping you and I safe.  I could not imagine what he had been through, but I listened as best I could, as he told me about dragging 4 friends out of gun fire after they were shot.  He told me and showed me the bullet holes and where a bomb had caught some of him.  He would start and stop as if reliving it.  As he cried I couldn't help but cry too.  He is 36 years old.  You see, what I realized tonight was, that many times I watch things happen or read about things that take place and I think somebody will take care of the problem or the government will help this or that situation...The truth is that there isn't that someone else to take care of anything except you and me!  I hope you understand what I am saying....IT is UP to you and me to make this journey work! it is up to me to SQUAT every day and it is up to us both to get more people involved...WE are the change the world needs! WE are the ones that are making the difference! WE are the ones that other people can count on!...As I listened to Howard talk, I realized he had to be THAT GUY or he and his friends were dead, there was NO HELP coming to save them!  And when he was done sharing, he started asking me about this blog and he think's what we are doing is fantastic!  I am learning nothing will get done unless you and I make this happen!  It's us, all us and I am stoked that we are all together doing this!  My email is ...bull101601@gmail.com, my cell is ...352 255 6421... what ever I can do, let me know, but we need more sponsors.  Thank you again and I am so honored to have ya'll with me.  Thank you Lord for Your Love.  

DAY 68

Two months ago and after a few weeks of deliberating about doing this blog, the journey began. And since the very first blog so many things have taken place I would not have imagined taking place and turning out so well.  It is amazing when you stop trying to be the production manager of situations and just "DO" the right thing...things happen and so far they have been good things!  We have another HERO WOD planned for JP and will probably take place in a couple weeks and this time we will have the emails and fliers out earlier so everyone knows.  It will also run 2 days so all shifts can attend.  I have a raffle planned and I think it will be huge!  I called a friend who is on a crossfit team that made regional's and in fact they did good enough to win their division so they will be going to the Crossfit Games.  Her name is Ellie and her team is Mayhem Freedom! YUP the team that Rich Froning the 4 time Games champ is on!  I am sending a Male XL and a female M and they will be signing both and I will advertise at all Crossfit boxes I can then donate ALL precedes to Shakey and JP!  I am really looking forward to seeing what will happen with this raffle since we will be involving more than just fire department family now.

Crossfit Mayhem "FREEDOM"
I really want to thank Ellie for doing this and to all her team mates for taking the time do help us out!  We will be cheering for ya'll to kick butt and take GOLD at the Games!..Thanks again, Bull
 
We also have new sponsors this month from the Volusia County Fire and Rescue Dept.  I will post a picture soon but I am stoked to have them part of our Squat group. FF Eric S from this crew I have known since I was a small child and I have watched him grow up and become a fine example of a man over the years.  Week before last I was able to be with his family as they laid their father to rest and a long battle with illness's.  Chuck was one of the best men I have known over the years and he was good to me in my young years as well as my older years.  I am missing him.


Voluisa County Brothers !
Squats this week went better than last week if there is such a thing( LOL).  I left off on Thurs so starting with last Fri ( and these are just the totals/last set) FRI-16"Box Sqt 315#, SAT-Back Sqt 315X2, SUN-Back Sqt 325#X1,MON-Bk Sqt with a 3 second pause at bottom 320#X1,TUES-18" Box Sqt 315X1,WED-18" Box Safety Bar Sqt 315#X1, THURS-Back Sqt 315#X2..
THANK YOU everyone for following and being patient with me...I will do better about posting more often with more updates from the families on our brothers and things we have coming up.  Many blessings to Shakey and JP and may you both continue to fight and know we love and miss ya.  REST WELL,  Love ya Bull

THANK YOU!!!!

I want to thank Clermont Fire Department especially the crew of Engine 101 and EMS 321 "C" shift and Rebecca Moore of "Rebecca Moore Hair Design" for being my 1st sponsors when I began this journey.  I hate moving their pictures but I gotta stick by the rules and I do have some other nice people to put on the front page.  Again THANK  YA'LL so much for what you did to help me.  

Tonight I will be posting this weeks Squats so we will be caught up with that and I will tell you that this was absolutely the roughest to get through.  Mentally taxing because of Shakey and JP going into the hospital and the other was that I really over did it with reps and sets....Thinking i was 21 again not 55 ( closer to 56 if were being truthful).  Plus one of out Lt.s is trying to gather all the names of our brothers and sisters who have passed away NOT in the line of duty for a Memorial in Ocala at the Fire College...the last total of OCFRD personnel I saw he had was 59!  and the sad part is I remember 52 of these people.  I would have never thought there was that many who have died since I have been with Orange County.  Makes me sick to my stomach that our lives are so short.  Something is wrong somewhere.  Sorry I would like to do more with this topic but it will have to wait for another time.  To the squats!

MONDAY SQUATS- 10 x bar,10 x 95#,6 x 135#,5 x 185#,3 x 225#,3 x 275#,2 x 315#

TUESDAY SQUATS- 10 x bar,3 x 150#,3 x 200#,2 x 250#,1 x 290#,1 x 315#

TUESDAY EVENING FRONT SQUATS- 5 x bar,5 x 95#,4 x 115#,4 x 135#,3 x 155#,2 x 175# 1x195#

WEDNESDAY "ZERCHER" SQUATS-5 x bar,5 x 110,3 x 150#,3 x 200#,1 x 240#,1 x 290# then FAILED 2X AT 315# so I did the Squat wod which was 20 sets of 2 reps adding weight every minute on the minute and it went like this for 10 sets of 2 reps each weight change- 135,145,155,165,175,185,195,205,215,225, then it went to adding only 5# each set but still doing 2 reps-225,230,235,240,245,250,255,260,265,270,275- so at 21 sets I decided to just add the weight to 315 and do it...1 x 315 and DONE!

THURSDAY SQUATS ( 18" box) 10 x 95#,8 x 145#,6 x 195#,4 x 245#,2 x 295#,2 x 315#

ok so I see why my legs are toast this week....I usually try to keep these squat days to 5-8 reps at the most and I was WAY OFF most days this week with excess of over 50 reps one day and 30 or more on others.  OK enough whining outta me just stating the facts......alright no more whining!!!!   I hope to have some more for ya'll this weekend.  Please take the time to send prayers to Shakey and JP and the families.  I am so humbled to what everyone has done to help these 2 families.  It is an honor to be a part of this journey,  Truthfully I would rather NOT be doing this BUT I couldn't nor would I have it any other way than side by side with ya'll.  Shakey, JP please rest well tonight brothers and know that you have our love, our prayers and our hearts with you daily.  I ask God to wrap His powerful arms around you my friends.  Love ya,  Bull

I got ya backs boyz