At D1 Training, the culture inside each facility is built on something bigger than training alone—it’s about community, accountability, and showing up for one another when it matters most.
That spirit is on full display at D1 Wichita, where athletes and coaches have been wearing pink shirts in support of three members—Karen Hurley, Ashley Ralston, and Katie Stone—as each faces or continues recovery from cancer. The gesture has become a powerful visual reminder of the bond that develops inside D1 training facilities across the country.
Karen Hurley, 54, joined D1 Wichita in February 2026. Diagnosed with cancer at age 46, she has been NED (No Evidence of Disease) since May 2018. Years after her final surgery, she says training has played a key role in rebuilding strength, mobility, and confidence.
“Although it’s been seven years since my last surgery, my range of motion has greatly improved since joining D1,” Hurley said. “I love the community feel D1 has and the encouragement not only from the coaches but the members too.”
Ashley Ralston, 35, first joined D1 in Tennessee in 2024 before later relocating to Wichita. She was diagnosed on February 13, 2026, with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, ER/PR+, HER2-, along with a BRCA2 mutation, and is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Through it all, she has continued to train as part of her routine for both physical and mental strength while raising three children.
“Showing up to train reminds me that my body is still capable and strong, even on the hard days,” Ralston said.
She also credits the broader D1 community for helping her stay grounded throughout her journey.
“One of the biggest things D1 has given me is community,” she said. “From Tennessee to Wichita, I’ve been surrounded by coaches and members who encourage me, check in on me, and help lift me up when things feel heavy.”
Katie Stone, 36, joined D1 Wichita in November 2025 after being diagnosed earlier that year with triple negative breast cancer, despite having no family history of the disease. She says the support she has received has extended beyond her own experience and into her family life.
“D1 provided an extreme outlet for them in a very supportive way to keep them focused on their own health and their bodies as well as conditioning them for sports,” Stone said. “I have nothing but amazing things to say about the love that D1 has surrounded our family with in this extremely difficult time.”
Across D1 facilities, stories like these reflect a consistent truth: training environments built on accountability and encouragement often become places of deep connection. At D1 Wichita, the pink shirts are more than a gesture of awareness—they represent strength, resilience, and a community that refuses to let anyone face a challenge alone.
For Hurley, Ralston, and Stone, that support has helped transform a training facility into something far greater than a place to work out.
A version of this article orignially appeared in the D1 Daily.