Brandon Boyd: Building Lasting Friendships and a Great Community
September 28, 2019
The D10 Athlete Profile explores what brings competitors to The D10 playing field... and what they bring away from it. Brandon Boyd
The University of Texas at San Antonio / First Class Fitness
Adjunct Kinesiology Professor/ Founder
Fundraising goal: Team Patrick's Phalanx ($6,000)
Marquee Event: Broad Jump [Goal 10 Feet 1 inch]
Houston D10 team Patrick's Phalanx brings some heavy hitters to this year's event and Brandon Boyd's no exception. A former high school and college football player, Brandon, a Houston-native, has competition in his bones and a passion to fight cancer.
What is your primary motivator for competing in The D10 events?
My primary goal for competing in The D10 Houston is to give back to the city that raised me. Currently, I reside in San Antonio, Texas. I am always looking for opportunities to give back to my community while being away, and I can't think of any better way than through The D10. The D10, also allows me to visit friends and family at home and gives my family the chance to watch me do something I am passionate about - all while raising money for our city.
How much of your motivation for participating in The D10 stems from its charitable mission?
A lot actually. I do not like to do things without purpose. Cancer is unfortunate - it has taken or affected people around me way too often. If beating myself up all year, through intense training, contributes to cancer research and maybe fixing this or at least making treatments more tolerable, I'm all in! (Donate to Brandon's athlete fundraising page.)
How did you first get involved in The D10?
My involvement began with an invite from my friend, Christian Menefee. He wanted to get a team together for this
event, especially because this year The D10 was fundraising for The MD Anderson Cancer Center. A place he is, unfortunately, all too familiar with.
How has The D10 been different from your collegiate or high school sports experiences in terms of training and motivation?
In high school and college, I suffered two fractures and a herniated disk in my lower back. I am extremely motivated to not let my previous injuries
prevent me from doing something I am passionate about. The D10 also focuses on giving back
to the community, while helping you be the best athlete you can be. In High School and College, the main focus was to win and maybe go to the NFL to
make the big bucks. However, my entire athletic career, including The D10, has allowed me to build lasting friendships and a great community.
Participation in The D10 has increased my work performance, because it gives me something to look forward to everyday. I miss sports, and work
is... work. However, The D10 is one of many things that help me achieve my "why" in life and when you believe you are doing such, it's
inevitable that your performance at work profits from it.
As a fitness professional and educator in higher education, my professional network has strengthened as a result of my D10 experience. I hope to make lasting friendship from this community. Sports was always the way I made friends, since I was 8. For me, there is no way better way
to connect with hard working professionals who love to work out, give back to their community, and drink a beer afterwards to
celebrate!
Help Brandon reach his goal and help children afflicted with cancer by donating to his athlete page. This motivates all our athletes to go above and beyond on Game Day.