The memory of seeing Amanda Strous and her fiance Cory McCleaf working out together at a CrossFit in North Carolina was honored Saturday, July 30. The CrossFit community didn’t want the day to go by without acknowledging what had been planned on that day. McCleaf, and his bride-to-be Strous, were to be married.
Strous, of York, was murdered in June. The 27-year-old had moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to be closer to her fiance. Evidence points to her downstairs neighbor, Mathew Benner, 28, of murder and arson.
Benner was indicted by a grand jury in July. Documents provided by the North Carolina Trial Court Administrator’s Office, reveal that jurors for the state of North Carolina agreed that Benner unlawfully, willfully, feloniously, and maliciously burned the dwelling house inhabited by Strous, as well as aforethought killed and murdered Strous.
At CrossFit in Pineville, North Carolina, the community organized a fundraiser. According to an EventBrite website, “Her vibrant spirit and beautiful smile made all of our workouts, our days and our lives better. We want this day to be a special one, to celebrate her light, to embody it and to share it with each other. We also want the day to honor Coach Cory. To support him and let him know how much we love him. Amanda and Cory were going to be married on July 30th, 2016. It was going to be a day of life, love and laughter. So that’s what we want at our Fly High 22 Memorial Fundraiser.”
There were 20 spots open, however, 30 gym members participated. Trainers said the workout required, “No judges or NO REPS here, just hard work, high fives and hugs in Amanda’s honor.”
“We raised $145, and we’re matching anything raised,” CrossFit owner Tammy Friedt said. “So, $300. It will go to the Amanda Strous scholarship fund.”
Anyone interested in making a donation can send an email to Michelle Shuck at info@pinevillecrossfit.com.
“I’m not sure if it’s going to be an annual event,” Friedt said. “If it is, we can always make it a July 30th annual event.”
