Check Out Katie Cook’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Cook

Hi Katie , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a native california girl who found Foster Fit as a foster mom. Foster Fit is a non-profit that matches foster youth and those aging out with Crossfit gyms all over the country. During 2020, after my own family’s adoption from the system, my coach told me about a crossfit competion being put on by a new charity called Foster Fit. When I heard their mission I was hooked, and after competing in a couple of their competitions I wanted to know how I could help more. Its been a few years since then and I have had the joy and privelege of working along side the strongest of people on our board. I am currently the Vice President of Foster Fit and are incharge of our memberships with our athletes and our gyms.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The foster system is broken by design and a smooth road can’t exist of a faulty foundation. We are extremely proud of our athletes and the champion gyms we get to partner with, but have run into hardships. We have had gyms that try to drastically raise rates on us, and kiddos that have been moved back to detension centers, but the good outweights the bad and we have learned from all of it. We are 100% dependent on donations and have the best supporters! As a former foster parent and mom of 4 boys, I can’t help but get invested in each of our atheletes lives and just this year we have celebrated reunions, new jobs, college, marriages, and reunification with them. Its a gift to be there ot cheer them on.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I never set out to “work” with Foster Fit. I just knew I wanted to help more. They have the most amazing team already. Justin (an adoptee) leads the charge. Rebecca (CF coach and pastor’s wife) managed our competition and communicates so beautifully with others, Nicole pushes us to do better and keeps our scholarships going (Entrepreneur and coach), Trevor (dad and athelete) oversees our internal coms, and Jenene (former foster youth) who sees with eyes that we would otherwise miss. Its a dance and we all have a part. I, the former foster parent, and the person that actively works in the community, am a trainer for foster youth and now a lululemon ambassador have been able to host a multitide of events to raise awareness and bring more foster kids into the space. I am proud of the way our work has magnified these outstanding people and partners.

This year we have hosted hundreds of people at events where kiddos have experienced running their first mile, their first box jump and the first step towards a happy and healthier journey with normalcy and a community that believes in them.

How do you think about luck?
I don’t believe in luck. Everything happens for a reason. I have experinced great loss in and outside the foster world. I had faced tragedy, but God has never let an ounce of it go to waste. I have also experienced grace and achieved things that only a miracle can explain. All of the good and the hard has been used for something bigger than I could have ever imagined. Luck has never been a part of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fosterfit.org
• Instagram: foster_fit

Image Credits
Dean Xu, Brittney Ned, Mollie Youree, Emily RBates