All Hail King

15
ByCrossFitApril 22, 2021

“My name is Charles King. I’m 70 years old. I’ve been totally blind since the age of 39,” says King, a man who has found gratitude, strength, and joy amid circumstances that would break most people. 

“Since going blind, I’ve been homeless, I’ve been addicted to drugs and alcohol, I’ve been a prostate cancer (survivor), and I’m a diabetic,” King says.

At one point in his life, King recalls, “I just quit. I wanted to die.”

After he was found half frozen on the streets of Philadelphia in the winter of 1996, King’s life finally took a positive turn. The kind-hearted police officer who found King learned he was a veteran and helped connect him with his local VA.

“That was the beginning of my journey back,” King says. “I stopped focusing on the things I couldn’t do and realized there were things I could do.”

The VA helped set King up with an apartment so he could live safely and independently. Then they reconnected him with his family.

King continues to foster that safety and independence by remaining committed to his fitness. He regularly takes public transportation and then uses his cane to make his way to CrossFit Rittenhouse in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he trains with Jon Mears.

“We learned he was a record-holding blind powerlifter,” Mears says, noting that King is full of surprises and has become a living legend in their gym.

King connected with CrossFit right away. 

“The challenge in it is what got me excited again,” King says. “So I enjoy coming down here for CrossFit because there’s so many different exercises to work on, so many different positions to put your body in, so much extra power to grow!”

Robert Fitzgerald, a polytrauma blind outpatient rehabilitation specialist who works with King says, “All these various health conditions … would be a lot worse” if King didn’t do CrossFit. “He may not be here today if he wasn’t working out and as fit as he is,” Fitzgerald says.

“I like to see older people decide that, OK, you know, the world says that you can’t do this. But we can,” King says. “And it’s fun.”

“At last, I feel like my life’s worth something.”

To support King’s continued journey, visit his GoFundMe page.

Comments on All Hail King

12 Comments

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Jason Kamora
January 19th, 2023 at 8:40 pm
Commented on: All Hail King

Absolutely amazing. I have had the honor and privilege to be trained by Jon from CrossFit Rittenhouse and he is such an amazing and passionate, professional coach. To see these two amazing men together brings me such joy to pray that when I open my affiliate I can have the same honor to have that same impact.

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Kevin Croom
January 19th, 2023 at 8:39 pm
Commented on: All Hail King

Thanks for showing us how to live.. So! Inspiring! 💪🏼😭

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Bridgett James
January 19th, 2023 at 2:24 pm
Commented on: All Hail King

I also would like an update on Charles & his crossfit. What an inspiring story. God Bless those that have helped him get his life back.

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Diane Garner
January 19th, 2023 at 4:41 am
Commented on: All Hail King

Would love to hear an update on how Charles is doing with his fitness goals, etc.


Thank you.

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Jason Mateer
June 6th, 2022 at 11:38 am
Commented on: All Hail King

Mr King, thankyou for sharing your story. It's pure inspiration and hero status material. Peace.

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Finley Arthur
April 27th, 2022 at 8:34 am
Commented on: All Hail King

Hello everyone, my name is Finley Arthur from Georgia. I don't have much to say as happiness has restored back in my family with the help of Dr Marabul. I never thought i could this be happy again ever since my husband left me last two months and left me with two of our kids and run away with another woman, ever since then it has been hard for me and my two kids. When i explain my situation to my friend and what i have been going through that was when my friend told me that i should not worry that she have some one that can help me and all my problem will be gone over night and she introduce this man to me and when I contacted him! he told me that i should not worry that my problem is a very small one, I decide to do what he said because i want my husband back to me and I can assure you that within 48 hours my husband come back to me asking for forgiveness and now I can tell you that joy is just a starting point in my family. I urge any everyone out there who have been facing any problem to contact this man because he is best and he will solve your problem. You can contact him on marabulspellcaster@gmail.com or WhatsApp him on +2207835430.

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Mike Andridge
April 23rd, 2021 at 6:37 pm
Commented on: All Hail King

Great story--thanks for sharing HQ and King!

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Sue Williams
April 23rd, 2021 at 4:44 pm
Commented on: All Hail King

What a hero Charles King is!! Most people would never even begin to do the things he is doing. I’m a recovering alcoholic- CrossFit has been a huge component to my sobriety. This community supports and encourages everyone - and to see what it has done for Charles brings tears to my eyes. There are no excuses to sit on the sidelines of your life and allow it to wither away. Charles embodies the hope, strength, determination, and grit of a human spirit that will inspire everyone. #hero

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Lani Faulkner
April 23rd, 2021 at 2:02 pm
Commented on: All Hail King

Such a beautiful and inspiring story. Charles is beautiful and so is his wife! Thank you for sharing. I love that this Veteran was helped by a kindhearted police officer. The awesomeness of the VA to get his health back in order and CrossFit to enrich his life through physical activity for an overall positive health and wellness.

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Antonio Alves
April 23rd, 2021 at 7:41 am
Commented on: All Hail King

Amazing story 👍 Thanks for sharing and inspiring 🙏

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Abenadi Richards
April 23rd, 2021 at 5:13 am
Commented on: All Hail King

Incredible man! Thank you for sharing Charles story!

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Beau Claiborne
April 23rd, 2021 at 3:41 am
Commented on: All Hail King

Good stuff HQ!! Thanks for sharing Charles’s story.

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