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Episode 119 - Ashley Schwamberger

Ashley Schwamberger is a Portsmouth, OH firefighter, former Crossfit competitor, 555fitness advocate and future soldier. She lost her young son, Boston to terminal brain cancer in 2013. We talk about coping with loss, women in the fire service, fitness, mental health and much more.

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Ashley Schwamberger is a full time professional Firefighter and EMT with the Portsmouth Fire Department in Portsmouth, OHIO. She has enlisted with the Ohio Army National Guard as a Combat Engineer. 

Ashley is a proud mother to Boston, girlfriend to Ryan, daughter to the coolest parents Ron and Diane Bennett, and 555 Fitness staffer just to name a few things. She is dedicated to serving her community and country. 

When she isn’t busy working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and traveling and exercising ... A LOT!

Ashley’s son Boston passed away from brain cancer, specifically an inoperable tumor called DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) on September 4, 2013. 

After Boston’s passing, Ashley was even more motivated to live a life of service and appreciation. But before she applied for the Fire Department, Ashley competed as an individual at the 2014 CrossFit Regionals in the Central East Region. Once she started working full time, she struggled with sleep deprivation, balancing working and competing, and dealing with the grief process of losing her son. 

Presently, Ashley feels the best she ever has. She has worked hard to find a healthy balance between work, training and nutrition, and travel, and most importantly to put her loved ones at the top of her priority list. She is looking forward to continuing to live a life of truly living and experiencing and always serving her country and local community.  
 

555 Fitness Website:

http://www.555fitness.org

Recommended Books:

Pride and Ownership - Chief Rick Lasky

Twilight series -  Stephenie Meyer

Recommended Movies:

The Godfather

Last of the Mohicans

Pulp Fiction

Were Were Soldiers

The Departed

Recommended Television:

Anthony Bourdain's shows