Branded One CrossFit

Branded One CrossFit, established in 2016, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free gym memberships to disabled Veterans and disabled First Responders. Over the past 8 years, our Heroes have attended more than 10,000 classes, events and volunteer opportunities in a supportive environment built just for them. We provide this environment by having coaches that are uniquely qualified and specially trained to work with our Heroes, many of them are disabled Veterans themselves. 

CrossFit is defined as “constantly varied, high-intensity functional movements.” Functional movements help our adaptive participants with everyday tasks. When programming for individual adaptive athletes, trainers have unlimited options and regimens available to utilize. The target population is any/all disabled Veterans, regardless of their disability. All movements done in our classes are adaptable to each individual.

Our goal is to provide our disabled veterans a welcoming environment that removes any social and environmental barriers that often prevent individuals with disabilities from fully engaging in their health and fitness communities. Our objectives are achieved by our trainers by providing a positive impact by facilitating equitable access to fitness. In doing so, they provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to enhance their quality of life through movement.  Fitness can be a preventive measure against chronic disease and illness in this population, providing lifelong benefits and increased ability to function.

There are many benefits to consistent participation in functional fitness for people with disabilities. These benefits include increased physiological health, social engagement, cognition, learning, and memory (Medina, 2008). Individuals who engage in a consistent functional fitness program tend to experience improved movement patterns, efficiency, coordination and mobility, aerobic capacity, and lean muscle mass. Moreover, exercise is associated with a longer lifespan and can delay the onset of 40 chronic conditions or diseases (Ruegsegger & Booth, 2017). Each of these benefits transfers well to enhancing how a person moves and lives within their community, improving their Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. In several studies, high-intensity functional training focused on improved lower limb strength, balance, and mobility improved independence in completing ADLs (Borges-Machado et al., 2021). In addition, the benefits are not simply physical. Rather, high-intensity functional training, such as CrossFit, leads to significant improvements in mental health (Eather & Lubans, 2016). Outcomes from a study by Koon et al. (2021) showed preliminary findings that high-intensity functional training improved functional health and psychologically well being.

Military veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) face significant physical and functional health disparities, which are often aggravated over time and in the context of aging. Several studies suggest exercise may be an ideal treatment or adjunct to treatment because it can positively affect many of the psychological and physiological symptoms and/or comorbid conditions specifically faced by military veterans with PTSD. Several of our athletes at Branded One suffer from PTSD and have found regular exercise has benefitted them tremendously.

We serve the entire Las Vegas Valley, which has a population exceeding 2 million people with over 100,000 Veterans. With two Air Force bases in the Las Vegas Valley (Creech AFB and Nellis AFB), this number only continues to grow. The number of Disabled Veterans residing in the Las Vegas Valley is estimated to be 28,000 people. We are the only nonprofit CrossFit gym in Southern Nevada.

We have a strong relationship with Team RWB, who posts our free Saturday workouts on their app as a weekly event. This has been successful in bringing new people to Branded One. Additionally, we have an ongoing relationship with the Henderson Veterans Service Organization as well as the Black Mountain Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans (“DAV”), Merging Vets and Players, as well as the VA Hospital from whom we frequently receive referrals. 

We are effective with our outreach by utilizing our local media coverage. Our reputation in the community is stellar, and we have received excellent coverage by the local news. We are very proud to share that our organization has been recognized locally by the Las Vegas Review Journal, Las Vegas Sun, Channel 8 News, Nevada Public Radio, and we have been featured on Veteran’s Voice on KTNV Channel 13 News. Nationally, we have been recognized by the Morning Chalk, which is a daily publication focusing on achievements by the CrossFit Community.