Gabriel Fisher - Shadetree Foundation
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"The Unicorn" chats to Gabriel Fisher from Shadetree Foundation about their mentorship program at Crossfit Masi.
Gabe met Brian and Kristin in 2021 after dropping into a CrossFit gym in Fishers, Indiana while visiting family. Like many CrossFitters, he and Brian stayed in touch online. In early 2023, Brian and Kristin organized a gear drive at their gym, collecting two suitcases of equipment for L-327 Fitness. Soon after, Gabe invited them to Cape Town to meet the athletes, join outreach efforts, spend time with his family, and explore the Western Cape. The call to help was undeniable.
Since 2021, Gabe had been running L-327 Fitness from a nearby CrossFit box, coaching mornings in exchange for access to train local teens. When the gym relocated 25 minutes away in 2023, athletes could no longer walk to training. Gabe began coordinating daily transport, reducing training time and increasing strain on his family. Brian and Kristin saw both the challenges and the program’s potential. As the couples talked, prayed, and dreamed, the idea of creating something new took shape.
Inspired by Lindsey’s family motto—serving “those in the shade of our tree”—they envisioned a place rooted in faith, fitness, and community. From this came CrossFit Masiphumelele and the Shade Tree Foundation, expanding the work begun through L-327 Fitness: empowering at-risk youth with spiritual growth, physical training, life skills, and the hope to choose a better path.
Gabe met Brian and Kristin in 2021 after dropping into a CrossFit gym in Fishers, Indiana while visiting family. Like many CrossFitters, he and Brian stayed in touch online. In early 2023, Brian and Kristin organized a gear drive at their gym, collecting two suitcases of equipment for L-327 Fitness. Soon after, Gabe invited them to Cape Town to meet the athletes, join outreach efforts, spend time with his family, and explore the Western Cape. The call to help was undeniable.
Since 2021, Gabe had been running L-327 Fitness from a nearby CrossFit box, coaching mornings in exchange for access to train local teens. When the gym relocated 25 minutes away in 2023, athletes could no longer walk to training. Gabe began coordinating daily transport, reducing training time and increasing strain on his family. Brian and Kristin saw both the challenges and the program’s potential. As the couples talked, prayed, and dreamed, the idea of creating something new took shape.
Inspired by Lindsey’s family motto—serving “those in the shade of our tree”—they envisioned a place rooted in faith, fitness, and community. From this came CrossFit Masiphumelele and the Shade Tree Foundation, expanding the work begun through L-327 Fitness: empowering at-risk youth with spiritual growth, physical training, life skills, and the hope to choose a better path.
