As a veteran myself, I know the invisible battles don’t end when the uniform comes off. For many post-9/11 combat-injured warriors, the road back to normalcy is long, filled with physical pain, PTSD, isolation, and the search for identity. That’s exactly why Catch A Lift Fund (catchaliftfund.org) exists – a nonprofit that turns fitness into therapy, community into strength, and grants into life-changing tools. If you’re a post-9/11 veteran with combat injuries, this organization could be the lifeline you’ve been looking for.
How Catch A Lift Fund Started
The story begins with a promise kept. In 2009, U.S. Army Spc. Christopher “Chris” Coffland – a 42-year-old adventurer, professional football player, lacrosse coach, and fitness fanatic – deployed to Afghanistan. He lived by the phrase “Catch a lift” every time he hit the gym. On November 13, 2009, Chris was killed in a roadside bombing.
His sister, Lynn Coffland, received messages from soldiers who trained with him: “I worked out with your brother.” “He helped me get back into shape.” Lynn realized fitness was more than exercise for Chris – it was mental armor. Within a year, in the same basement where she last spoke with him, she founded Catch A Lift Fund in 2010 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. What started as a way to honor her brother has grown into a nationwide movement providing free fitness programs, equipment, coaching, and community to thousands of post-9/11 combat-wounded veterans.
The Mission and Four Core Pillars
Catch A Lift Fund’s mission is crystal clear: “Catch A Lift Fund is dedicated to restoring the lives of post-9/11 combat-injured Veterans by providing the tools, resources, and support needed to achieve long-term physical and mental well-being, renewed identity, and purpose.”
Everything revolves around four core pillars:
- Nutrition – Teaching veterans how to fuel recovery and long-term health.
- Fitness – Building strength, mobility, and confidence through adaptive, personalized training.
- Emotional Wellness – Tackling PTSD, depression, anxiety, and invisible wounds with coaching and mental health resources (including BetterHelp vouchers).
- Community – Reconnecting veterans to a brotherhood/sisterhood of peers and Veteran coaches who truly understand.
What Catch A Lift Fund Offers – The Wellness Program
The heart of the organization is the free Veteran Wellness Program, a phased journey built for real transformation:
- Phase 1 – Wellness Group (8 weeks): One-on-one matching with a CAL Veteran Coach (many are Purple Heart recipients). You get personalized goals, habit-building, weekly check-ins, a private dashboard, live webinars, an online library, and access to the Vet Connect community platform.
- Phase 2 – Mission Ready Group (1 year, extendable to 2): Deeper coaching, peer group calls, and measurable goals (including 180 minutes of weekly activity). Upon completing Phase 1, veterans receive grants for either a nationwide gym membership or in-home fitness equipment (yours to keep forever – from Rogue Echo Bikes to full garage gyms and adaptive gear).
- Phase 3 – Legacy: Lifelong support, ongoing resources, certification opportunities (like becoming a Certified Personal Trainer), and chances to give back as an Ambassador or Coach.
Additional perks include nutrition guidance, mental health tools, adaptive fitness for amputations/TBI/spinal injuries, women’s fitness initiatives, and event support (Warrior Games, strongman competitions, triathlons).
Real impact (from program data):
- 92% report improved physical wellness
- 89% hit 180 minutes of weekly exercise
- 86% see better emotional wellness
- 100% make healthier lifestyle choices
- Over 14,900 lives lifted nationwide
Veterans like double-amputee Jerry D., powerlifter Isreal A., wheelchair-to-walking Carl R., and sobriety champion Jason W. share stories of weight loss, reduced medications, competitions won, businesses started, and families reunited – all thanks to the structure, accountability, and “just win the day” mindset CAL provides.
Who Qualifies and How to Get Started
Eligibility is straightforward but specific:
- Post-9/11 veterans deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan (OIF/OEF/OND – boots-on-ground proof required)
- Combat-related injuries with a VA disability rating of 50% or higher (minimum 30% in one combat injury)
- Living in the continental U.S., Hawaii, or Alaska
VA-certified caregivers can join if the veteran needs assistance during workouts.
Application process (completely free):
- Go to https://catchaliftfund.org/apply/
- Upload:
- DD214 (redact SSN; must show deployment – medals alone aren’t enough)
- VA % Narrative Letter (PDF)
- Recent or in-country photo (no graphic injury images)
- Caregiver details/certification if applicable
Applications open in cohorts. As of now (March 2026), Wellness Group 19 is closed; Group 20 opens Monday, April 6, 2026 at 9 a.m. EST. After submission, approved veterans get a Veteran Coach interview and immediate program access.
Questions? Email Sarah Cody at scody@catchaliftfund.org or call 1-855-496-4838.
Why This Matters
Catch A Lift Fund doesn’t just hand out gym memberships – it rebuilds lives. It gives veterans structure when life feels chaotic, brotherhood when isolation hits hardest, and purpose when the mission feels over. If you’re struggling or know a brother or sister who is, this is the organization that turns “I can’t” into “Watch me.”
Ready to catch a lift? Apply when the next window opens, share this with a veteran in need, or support the mission through donations or event attendance. Lives are literally being saved – one rep, one check-in, one connection at a time.
VeteranJaime 
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