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CrossFit For Cameron Raises $10K For Trumbull Tot With Rare Disorder

TRUMBULL, Conn. — Athletes came together at 11 CrossFit gyms across Fairfield County to help Cameron "Cam" Simpson, a 1-year-old from Trumbull who has AHC, or Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood.

Cameron "Cam" Simpson, of Trumbull, is a 1-year-old suffering from AHC, Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood. Here he is seen on a video with his mother thanking participants in a CrossFit fundraiser that raised over $10,000 for the rare disorder.

Photo Credit: ms3bn
Cameron "Cam" Simpson, of Trumbull, is a 1-year-old suffering from AHC, Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood.

Cameron "Cam" Simpson, of Trumbull, is a 1-year-old suffering from AHC, Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood.

Photo Credit: Contributed

The adorable toddler and his mother are seen on a video thanking the volunteers who took part in "Workout of the Day" last weekend to fund AHC research.

The gyms collectively raised more than $10,000. 

AHC is characterized by recurrent attacks of temporary paralysis, stiffness and unusual eye movements. There is no cure for AHC, which is an extremely rare genetic disorder.

The 11 local Crossfit gyms joined together to participate and compete in “the Cam” Workout of the Day to raise funds for the AHC Foundation (ahckids.org), an organization striving to develop research for effective treatments, to find a cure and for the family of Cameron.

The Cam workout or “WOD” was designed by Molly McMugh, Cameron’s cousin. It challenged the gym members to do 19 repetitions of a variety of exercises and to do it as many times as possible in 19 minutes. 

Why 19?

Cameron’s mother Corie Simpson said, “19 is the number of the chromosome that is mutated in Cam’s genetic make up and in those that suffer from AHC.”

Cam is a happy little 1-year-old boy who is literally one in a million, as the prevalence rate of the mutation is one in a million. He adores his older brother, Tyler, and he and his family enjoy life as much as possible. But with Cameron suffering from AHC, life can be hard to predict.

Related story: CrossFit gyms team up to help Trumbull toddler with rare disorder

Corie says, “AHC presents itself in the form of an episode that can last a few minutes, days or even weeks. There is no way to predict an episode and no cure for the disorder.” 

Cameron, along with just 850 cases worldwide, will grow up with the disorder and its symptoms.

Molly McHugh of SOSF in Fairfield said, “Crossfit is a community and WODs are regularly dedicated to great people who have suffered or who has overcome great challenge. Cam, at only 1 years old, is living with something that none of us knew even existed. It’s amazing that the Crossfit community across Connecticut came out to help us raise over $10,000.”

Eileen Crossin, a friend of Cameron’s parents and a participant in the Cam WOD was ecstatic. “We think over 250 people participated over this week to represent Cam and all of the other sufferers of AHC. It’s beyond our wildest dreams that we’ve raised $10,000. It’s truly amazing.”

The Cam WOD happened at Crossfit gyms on Saturday, Feb. 25 or Tuesday, Feb. 28. The Cam Workout included:

  • 19 pullups
  • 19 thrusters
  • 19 Double under skips
  • 19 sit ups
  • 19 calorie bike
  • 19 push ups
  • 19 wall ball
  • 19 box jumps
  • 19 push press
  • 19 kettle bell swings
The following gym’s participated:
  • Rough House, Black Rock 
  • Hybrid Athletics, Bridgeport
  • Hybrid Athletics, Stamford 
  • Crossfit KMK, Fairfield 
  • SOSF, Fairfield 
  • Down Under Fitness, Fairfield 
  • Crossfit Expressions, Stratford 
  • Crossfit TriTown, Monroe 
  • Crossfit Stamford, Stamford 
  • Crossfit Norwalk, Norwalk 
  • Big Red Crossfit @ Sacred Heart University

A Cure For Cam is a nonprofit team that is raising money for finding a cure for AHC. 

In June, A Cure For Cam will be hosting a fundraiser dinner at the Gaelic American Club, Fairfield.

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