×

Deadlifting with a purpose

From left, Bitters and Bones owner John Williams, and Liam Ward and his father John “Doc” Ward stand in front of promotional banners for Saturday’s fundraiser for the Fenton and Marlow families. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

SARANAC LAKE — A unique fundraiser and good timing.

With all the visitors in the village for rugby weekend, Bitters and Bones is hosting a benefit on Saturday to help out two families who live a few miles out of town but are nonetheless, members of the Saranac Lake community.

The event is called Beer and Deadlifts, and will raise money for the Fenton family of Lake Clear and the Marlows, who live in Bloomingdale. Scott Fenton and Hanna Marlow are currently battling cancer.

Beer and Deadlifts will be held in the parking lot near the back of Bitters and Bones, a Saranac Lake restaurant and bar operated by John Williams. He said one of his goals, as well an aim of his staff, is to always be a thoughtful member of the community who is willing to help.

The fundraiser is slated to start and 3 p.m. and continues to 7 p.m. or later. Participants will pay $25 dollars and deadlift either as much weight as they can, or as much as they want. While lending a hand financially, they’ll also receive a T-shirt, an engraved custom glass and a beer.

Saranac Lake High School graduate and avid weightlifter Liam Ward presented the idea for the fundraiser to Williams after seeing beer drinking weightlifters when he was in Ohio.

“I went to the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio. It’s the biggest fitness expo in the world,” Ward said. “I saw a lot of guys drinking and then doing these crazy lifts.”

Ward explained that he originally planned a similar activity with another Saranac Lake alum and former football player, Sean Ryan, who is currently back home on leave from the Marines, and it evolved into a fundraiser for the two families.

“Sean Ryan is one of my best friends, and he’s a Marine and he just got back,” Ward said. “Our plan a couple of months ago was when he comes home, we’ll have a couple drinks and then work out, just to celebrate that he’s back home.

“The more that we talked about it, the more people wanted to get involved, and at the same time, I was thinking I wanted to do something for the Marlows, and my dad is good friend with Scott Fenton,” Ward continued. “We came over and kind of threw this idea at Johnny — doing Beer and Deadlifts. We decided this would be a great event for charity, and two events came together.”

Liam’s dad, John “Doc” Ward, a retired art teacher from Saranac Lake High School, said an early plan was doing a multiple sclerosis fundraiser at the Rock Hard Fitness gym, which is just a couple blocks away from Bitters and Bones on Broadway.

“We were going to lift down there and then walk up here (to Bitters and Bones),” Liam Ward said. “We didn’t have this great plan starting out. It just kind of came together. We’ll just be doing dead lifts. It’s not really a competition, it’s more like a do whatever you want sort of thing. It’s like an exhibition.

“A woman who I used to work with at Price Chopper, she’s coming and said she’s just going to lift 10 pounds and donate money and have a beer,” he continued. “And then I have a guy coming from Philadelphia who just qualified for Strongman nationals — a very serious competitor. He’s driving up here to lift. It can be casual people who really don’t work out to Strongman competitors who take it really serious, all coming together for a good cause.”

Normally, drinking and weightlifting might not be the best of combinations, but Doc Ward stated it should be safe.

“It’s a safe lift because the weights are never above you,” he said. “Plus, they’re Olympic weights so they’re well away from your feet. If you hit your feet with these, that would be an interesting stance.”

“It’s a simple, easy setup,” Liam Ward added.

With all the ruggers in town, the group is hoping for a big turnout. There will also be raffles at the fundraiser of gift certificates donated by local businesses.

A registration tent will be set up in the upper parking lot adjacent to Bitters and Bones. Celtic music by Sean McNally will also accompany the fundraiser.

Sponsors for Beer and Deadlifts include Bitters and Bones, Element Day Spa & Salon, Good Guy Productions, Great Adirondack Brewing, Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood, Hyde Fuel, Mem Ward Graphic Design, Rock Hard Fitness, Trudeau Sand and Gravel, UPS Store and Walker’s Butcher Shop.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.75/week.

Subscribe Today