Barbells for Boobs supporters. Jen Spina is second from right.

To the community,

I would like to personally thank South Tahoe Crossfit for putting on the Barbells for Boobs fundraising event on Oct. 15.

Over $12,000 was raised for metastatic breast cancer research (Metavivor.org) and for mammograms for under-insured or non-insured people regardless of age or gender (Barbellsforboobs.org). The event was near and dear to my heart and to my bald, shiny head as I am currently battling and winning my own fight with breast cancer. I just finished five months of chemotherapy and will follow with a lumpectomy in December and five weeks of radiation in January-February.

I would like to give an additional heartfelt thanks to South Tahoe Crossfit (they have waived my gym fees since my diagnosis) and to the South Lake Tahoe community and my friends and family for all of their love, support, and cheerleading to get me through all of this. I have been #fittofight (my motto!) from the get-go and plan on staying that way. Read more online about my story and how to donate.

Jen Spina, South Lake Tahoe