The Westport Local Press

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Catch a Lift Fund Heals Wounds from “America’s Longest War”; Families Welcome to Events in Fairfield County this Weekend

Catch a Lift Fund

Stories from veterans through Catch a Lift Fund.

As America’s longest war comes to an end with the withdrawal of forces in Afghanistan, this nation will also be marking the 20th year since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the beginning of this war.  Since 2010 the Catch A Lift Fund has been serving combat-injured veterans who served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. 


For the past 12 years, Catch A Lift (CAL) has witnessed the toll that war has taken on thousands upon thousands of service members. To watch them heal and find a new purpose in life, through physical, mental and spiritual wellness that our programs provide, is inspirational and pushes CAL to work harder to reach more of those in need. 


“After my brother was killed in Afghanistan in 2009, I took his core beliefs of wellness (mentally and physically) and introduced that philosophy to our combat injured veterans who were returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. These men and women have life altering, catastrophic injuries, both seen and unseen. Catch A Lift's primary goal is to teach our veterans to heal holistically. Everyday we witness pain turn to purpose.” (Founder Lynn Coffland)


Dropping medication & substances, significant weight loss, finding a new purpose, breaking away from isolation and depression and learning to be part of a community once again is achieved; all through rigorous individualized programs, designed for combat inflicted injuries, taught and coached by CAL Veterans, (once in the program) and now giving back in service to their fellow brothers and sisters. The scientific correlation between physical fitness and mental health is staggering. 


Catch A Lift Fund will be in Fairfield County, CT the weekend of Friday 9/10/21 through Sunday 9/12/21. 

Events to register for:

Westport CT

Friday, September 10th, 5 pm-8 pm

Compo Beach Sunset Celebration & Remembrance Event 

(outdoors patriotic celebration with food, drinks, music, and special tributes!)  


Westport CT 

Saturday, September 11th, 3pm 

Community Workout with Veterans 

(outdoors & for all levels, youth, and families too!) 


Ridgefield CT

Sunday, September 12th, 9 am

Family Bike Ride

(music, food, and meet and greet veteran inspiring guests) 


Hear from our special Veteran VIP guest speakers: 

  • Clayton Jensen (US Army Master Sergeant)  Jensen supported numerous Counterterrorism and Counternarcotics operations as well as hostage rescue, personnel recovery, and national level intelligence collection and analysis. He has supported several combat operations to include Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan (4 deployments), Iraqi Freedom (2 deployments), OEF-CCA, OEF-X, Operation Willing Spirit, and the War on Drugs

  • Jason Livingston (US Army Sgt) Duty stations included 8-10 CAV 4th Brigade Combat Team 4th Infantry Division Fort Hood Tx , 3/81 Armor 194th Training Brigade Fort Knox Ky-Instructor, 1-91 CAV 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team Conn Barracks Schweinfurt Germany- Fire Team Leader, 6-8 CAV 4th Brigade 3rd Infantry Division Fort Stewart GA-Section Sergeant as well as the Rear Detachment First Sergeant. He deployed to Baghdad Iraq (OIF) December 2005 and again in 2010 to Logar Province Afghanistan (OEF), And was medically Retired in January 2014. Livingston is a Purple Heart award recipient who received national recognition in 2021 for continued service. 


Interview opportunities are available with Founder and CEO, Lynn Coffland, coaches, team members, and veterans. Please email Jess Drew at jdrew@catchalfitfund.com for questions and/or scheduling.