Charity Fick, a beloved member of the OCR community in the Pacific NW and Canada, recently passed away at the age of 42. Known for her infectious smile, supportive nature, and desire to see everyone shine, Charity inspired and motivated all who met her.
I talked to several of her friends in the community. The common theme in every conversation I had was that she had this magical ability to bring out the best in everyone, even if she was struggling. She wanted you to see the best in yourself, even when you could not.
She also loved the sport and wanted to do anything she could to make it grow. Until this year, she was a proud Tough Mudder ambassador and encouraged everyone to take the plunge. She was a co-host at the BeastNet podcast. I first met her when I started in social media at Mud Run Guide and she was so eager to help. She would pitch in when I needed help sorting out weekend coverage or I was struggling to post ideas. She would always look for ways she could share more about this sport. She would be a friend, a cheerleader, and sometimes a mom during championship season coverage, helping out where she could and ensuring that Margaret Schlacter and I took breaks, got water, and smiled frequently.
She created the “Badass Women of OCR” series that Mud Run Guide did, featuring some of the most amazing women of our sport. One of the women she featured said it best; “It really prompted me to see myself in a different light. I just know the interaction I had with her and how she impacted my life, one woman wanting to lift up another.”
Most importantly, she was an AMAZING friend to so many of us. No matter what she was going through, she stood by your side and was just a text or messenger away if you needed to talk. She always wanted you to follow your dreams and push for what would make you happy. After my dad passed in 2020 and I felt like my life was falling apart she stood with me, even when she was going through her own challenges and let me cry, swear or fall apart any time I needed it. We would both talk about coming back to racing and what we wanted to accomplish when the world allowed for it.
For those of us who crossed paths with her and had the honor of calling her our friend, her loss is deeply felt. For the OCR community in general, we have lost one of the ones who make the sport and the community better.
Please keep her amazing young daughter Sierra in your thought as she mourns the loss of her mom and next time you are at a race, send a little thought her way. She would want you to push for your best and live in the moment.
