Crossfit community raises money to help quadruple amputee

COVINA, Calif. (KABC) -- Shield Crossfit, a fitness center in Covina, held a fundraiser Saturday to help make the home of a quadruple amputee handicap accessible.

Karen Crespo lost her limbs to bacterial meningitis in 2011. Eyewitness News interviewed her in 2013 when almost $100,000 worth of prosthetics were stolen from her front porch.

Jonathan Smith, co-founder of Shield Crossfit, heard about Crespo's story on social media and organized a fundraiser to help her get new prosthetic limbs.

"It's for a great cause, for a great woman and I like to give back and I think this is a great way to give back," Smith said.

Through donations, Crespo received new prosthetics.

"The crossfit community has been so amazing throughout this whole thing. You know, I'm a stranger and they're linking arms to help me," she said.

She even made history in 2014 when she was the first amputee to walk the catwalk during New York Fashion Week.

At Saturday's event, a raffle was held and athletes were asked to dedicate a workout of the day with a monetary gift to Crespo.

"Not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to do what we can do. It's out of love so I'm glad we can do it for her," Michael Hernandez, a competitor, said.

The money raised at the event will be used to make Crespo's home handicap accessible.

"Without them this wouldn't have happened. I'm so happy and thankful," Crespo said.