We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lindsey Marcelli a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lindsey , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Girls Gone Rx started with the idea of getting women together to benefit a great cause. I wanted to do something that showcased women’s strengths and weaknesses, because those are the two most important parts of battling something like cancer. You have to learn to be strong even when you’re feeling weak, but sometimes you also have to be willing to be weak and allow your team to support you. Our team building events help women learn to fight through obstacles and overcome them while learning to be strong, confident and fearless.
The path ahead for Girls Gone Rx was sometimes filled in uncertainty, but my unwavering desire was crystal clear: to empower women and rally behind a cause that held deep personal significance for me. We proudly hold the distinction of being the pioneer and the sole global all-female competition series, continuing to champion a noble cause.
It is important to mention my mom, Linda’s Story, as that is behind why I started Girls Gone Rx and why we benefit breast cancer charities.
In September of 2008, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was a scary blow for me and my husband and our entire family. At the time, all three of my children were in the military and were either in Iraq, about to go to Iraq or just coming home from Iraq. Our daughter, Lindsey, was the one stationed in Iraq when we found out, which was heart breaking. I had to wait weeks to be able to talk to her and when I did, I finally had to tell her my prognosis. It felt awful to share this news with her while she was in such a difficult place, so far away from home. But she is, and always will be, a rock solid soul. Lindsey and her husband, Kris, are truly great, hardworking and loving people who have supported me every step of the way.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Our all-women competitions and events encourage fun and fitness while raising awareness for Breast Cancer.
Our first event was in 2012, hosted at our previously owned CrossFit gym in Denver, Colorado. Girls Gone Rx brings strong, powerful women together to compete in in a competition that also raises money for breast cancer research and awareness.
Celebrating over a Decade of “Competing for a Cure”
In 2021, a striking realization dawned upon us – despite the incredible efforts put into fundraising, the positive impact IN our own community was not as apparent as we had hoped. We wanted to look at our coaches, athletes, and/or gyms and see the impacts we were working so hard at.
Fueled by this insight, we courageously embarked on a transformative journey and established our nonprofit organization, Compete for a Cure, in 2022
Our Mission
Fund breast cancer survivors’ & thrivers’ wellness within local communities and provide breast health education for coaches, trainers, and athletes.
Let’s talk M&A – we’d love to hear your about your experience with buying businesses.
In May 2023, I, Girls Gone Rx, purchased and acquired Barbell Babes and it’s assets, which includes an audience of over 31.1k followers. My plans for it?
Empower women to lift heavy! We have added Powerlifting Meets, Olympic Lifting Meets, and new swag online!
The goal is also to give away new resources and help our community: Courses, trainings, and tools, and more.
If you want to see something specific under @Barbell_Babes let us know!
I’m beyond excited and honored to get to carry this torch.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
My focus on building a strong reputation within the market has centered on fostering a relatable and inclusive brand experience. I aimed to create a platform where people could see themselves and their friends, inspiring a collective belief that if one person can achieve success, others can too. The emphasis has always been on cheering each other on and creating a sense of unity. While I might not be highly visible on social media, apart from the occasional happy birthday post from my team, my priority has been ensuring that the brand remains a source of motivation and empowerment for all.
Strong Women Empower ALL Women
Contact Info:
- Website: girlsgonerx.com and also competeforacure.org
- Instagram: girlsgonerx
- Facebook: Facebook.com/girlsgonerx
- Other: IG @Competeforacure
Image Credits
Photo sent via email @WhitWayCreative