Photo Credit: Joey Kuhn, Grace Courvoisier

In honor of the S.E.A.K’s The Sports Bra Challenge which takes place this Thursday, May 17th, at Union Square Park, we will be donating $5.00 of every mi-bra sale to the S.E.A.K foundation, and running interviews with the founders. Please enter the coupon code “SBC” at checkout, so we can keep track of the sales attributed to this amazing cause.

The Sports Bra Challenge is a day-long charity fitness centered around women working out in a series of group fitness classes in their sports bras. Get in on this epic celebration of our bodies and support S.E.A.K. Foundation and City of Hope’s Positive Image Center, which helps cancer patients regain and retain confidence in how they look while undergoing treatment.If you’re not going to be near the NYC area: Wear a sports bra while you cook dinner, walk the dog, run outside, take a yoga class, or while hiking with your friends. 

Third up is Kelly Hurley, who drives an array of the foundation’s marketing and operations efforts. 

GirlHabits: What do you love most about The Sports Bra Challenge?

GH: How has it changed you?

KH: I feel so much more comfortable with my body.  Jenny and Jocelyn have gotten me in sports bras for photo-shoots or workouts, and now I workout in my sports bra  for fun. I never thought I’d hear myself say that!  Am I insecure-free? No. But how I feel is so much more important than how I look. I’m grateful for my health and mobility. When I get caught up in self-hate regarding my looks, I see the big picture more clearly.

GH: What motivated you to be a part of it?

KH: I was sick of beating myself up over the way I looked.  I felt healthy and happy, but I needed to let go of insecurities that were keeping me from loving myself.  When Jenny came to me with this idea, it was kind of a relief.  I thought, finally, someone is speaking up.  And when someone who you think is inspiring and beautiful says she struggles with body image – it makes you realize how insignificant it is. I loved coming together with Jenny and creating an event where people feel great about themselves.

GH: Why should women show their bellies?

KH: I don’t think women even have to show their bellies.  They need to ask themselves: What if I just don’t care how people view me and I just do what makes me feel good?  For some people, that is working out in a sports bra.  For others, it could be anything that helps them face a fear or push past a struggle. Everybody’s insecurities are different and that’s The Sports Bra Challenge . It’s filled with symbolism. When I bear my belly, I’m celebrating my health and confidence.   

Photo Credit: Joseph Kuhn

GH: How do Jenny and Jocelyn motivate you to be a better person?

KH: Jenny dreams big and doesn’t let anything stop her.  She sets her mind to something and has all the confidence in the world that it can happen.  She makes me feel like I can achieve my dreams too. Jocelyn is the most selfless and giving person I know; she would do anything for a friend or anyone.  She goes out of her way to make you feel good about yourself.

Kelly’s Amazing Bio:

A S.E.A.K. Foundation director and founding board member, Kelly Hurley drives an array of the foundation’s marketing and operations efforts.  Hurley’s diverse career includes management positions at national indoor cycling and fitness pioneer SoulCycle, several years in public relations and marketing, and extensive fundraising work with The Wheelchair Foundation.

As member of SoulCycle, Hurley saw how a committed, supportive network of like-minded individuals can inspire and motivate each other to overcome emotional and physical challenges – in her case, a thyroid disorder that had a dramatic impact on her metabolism and self-confidence.  With the S.E.A.K. Foundation, Hurley is seizing the opportunity to share the insights she has gained on her personal journey with teens and young adults nationwide.

A New York resident, Hurley holds a B.S. in Business Administration from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Jocelyn’s Interview: Bearing Your Truth With The Sports Bra Challenge

Jenny’s Interview: Taking That First Step with The Sports Bra Challenge

Tom Renner’s Story: Westport Native’s Sports Bra Backs Cause for Teens 

Kelly’s Post: Introducing the Sports Bra Challenge

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Tags: Jenny Gaither, Jocelyn Levy, Kelly Hurley, Kelly The Culinarian, New York City, S.E.A.K Foundation, soulcycle, The Sports Bra Challenge, Tom Renner

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 at 12:30 pm and is filed under entrepreneurs, fitness & gurus. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.